Paul and Silas in Jail
Devotions for Acts 16:16-34
Monday–Paul and Silas in Jail
“’These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation’” (Acts 16:17).
In the gospels, few people realized who Jesus truly was. The demons knew who Jesus was, though, and they frequently blurted out that Jesus was the “Son of the Living God” when they were confronted by Jesus. It appears that the followers of Jesus were having the same experience. To the people of the marketplace, Paul and Silas were merely a couple of Jewish travelers. The young girl, who was controlled by evil forces, knew who Paul and Silas were. They were slaves of the Most High God. Paul and Silas were more than Jews. They were more than followers of the new religion called “The Way.” Paul and Silas were God’s slaves.
Society encourages us to be quiet about our faith. Religion is not considered a proper topic in polite conversation. Some of the people around us may know that we are followers of Jesus or that we worship at a particular congregation. Our baptismal challenge is to so live in God’s love and grace so that the Lord is revealed and glorified by our words and actions and that people see us not as merely Christians, but as slaves of the Most High God.
Lord, empower us to live for you alone. Amen.
Tuesday–Paul and Silas in Jail
“But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas” (Acts 16:19).
There’s a common saying that goes, “Love makes the world go around.” We hope that this is true, but at times it seems that, “Money makes the world go around.” On a playing field that isn’t level, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. It’s the same between nations with poorer nations being “mined” by the rich. All too frequently our lives our controlled by money. It’s what we worry about and wish we had more of. Certainly, this can be seen by the words and actions of the young girl’s owners.
As followers of Jesus, though, we are called to a higher calling than making ends meet and getting more. We are conduits of God’s love and grace. Having been loved, we are called to share love and to make love our “bottom line.”
Lord, forbid that we count our blessings in dollars and cents. Instead, may our blessings be experiences of your grace and opportunities to share your love with others. Amen.
Wednesday–Paul and Silas in Jail
“These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe” (Acts 16:21).
With, #MeToo and our current political atmosphere, it seems that every day there is a new allegation of sexual or financial misconduct brought against leaders, celebrities and even church leaders. People have lived thinking they were powerful enough or important enough to misuse people and suffer no repercussions. Instead of seeking to serve others, their goals was to satisfy their own desires.
Paul and Silas were righteous men. The charges that the owners of the young girl brought against them were false. Those who brought the charges against Paul and Silas couldn’t find a legitimate violation, so they had to think some up. Paul and Silas were flogged and imprisoned unjustly.
Paul and Silas serve as role models for us. As we live in faith as followers of Jesus, we are called to live our lives in such a way that no one can bring a charge against us—unless it is a false charge. We walk as people of the light. When people talk about what we have done, may they only be able to talk about our works of love and our service to others.
Lord, we all stumble and fall. As we confess our sin and receive your forgiveness, may others know us not for our sins but for our service. Amen.
Thursday–Paul and Silas in Jail
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns” (Acts 16:25).
Have you ever had one of those days? You know, the days that just don’t go right. The car breaks down on the way to work, a bid gets rejected, a meeting goes awry and we’re called into the principal’s office because of one of our children. At the end of the day, we may be thankful that we survived, but few of us would sing hymns of praise.
Paul and Silas certainly had a bad day. Falsely accused, they were flogged and shackled and imprisoned in the bowls of the local jail. Yet, bleeding and in pain, they prayed and sang. They had taken no pain killers, nor were they “high” on anything. Paul and Silas were, however, certain of God’s love and God’s presence in their lives. Releasing their anxiety, letting their requests be known to God with prayer and thanksgiving, they experienced the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:4-7). With peaceful hearts they were able to lift their voices in song.
As followers of Jesus, even on the worst of days, by God’s grace, we have the ability to pray, give thanks and sing.
Lord, move in us so that songs of praise always fill our hearts. Amen.
Friday–Paul and Silas in Jail
“Then he brought them outside and said, ‘Sirs what must I do to be saved?’” (Acts 16:30).
Karen was a single mom. Her four year-old son was diagnosed with leukemia. The required treatment included months of chemo therapy and eventually a bone marrow transplant. Karen couldn’t meet the challenges of the situation alone. Thankfully, a local congregation heard of her plight and decided to be her family. They provided transportation, childcare, meals and everything else that Karen and her family needed. The congregation even held fund raisers to help with the medical expenses. The treatment was successful and Karen’s son is now an active teenager. Overwhelmed by the love and support of the congregation, Karen’s faith was renewed and she is now actively involved in the congregation’s ministry.
Paul and Silas’ love touched the jailer. Even though the prison doors were opened by the earthquake, they did not run to escape. Their concern was that the jailer not hurt himself. The love Paul and Silas showed the jailer caused both the jailer and his family to believe and be baptized.
We have only one tool as followers of Jesus Christ—love. It comes in many different forms and is tailor made for each situation. Whatever shape it takes, though, it is love that touches and transforms lives. God’s command to us is simple, yet challenging—love one another.
Lord, help us to love as you love. Amen.
Saturday–Paul and Silas in Jail
“At that same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds” (Acts 16:33a).
Love inspires love. Washing wounds was not in the job description of a jailer. Jailers were not known for their kind and caring dispositions. Paul and Silas’ demonstration of love, however, made an impact on the jailer. He wanted to know the reason behind Paul and Silas’s action and they were able to tell him of God’s love. Changes began to take place in the life of the jailer. He started to love. He intuitively understood that the love he had received was to be shared.
Acts of love sometimes seem to be few and far between. When love does appear, though, it is noticed and it changes lives. We, who have been loved, are empowered to love so that others may not only experience God’s love but also start to share it. Love is not meant to be contained, but is to be allowed to spread like a virus—everyone catching the love bug.
Holy Spirit, move so that love flows freely and touches the lives of multitudes of people. Amen.
Sunday–Paul and Silas in Jail
“Then he and his entire family were baptized without delay” (Acts 16:33b).
Salvation had come to the jailer’s household. Their baptism could be seen as an indication that their lives had taken on a new direction. Being reconciled with God, their lives took on a new purpose—to love God by serving others.
The baptism of the jailer and his household was also a celebration. They had experienced the love and grace of God. The Holy Spirit had moved in their lives to give them the ability to believe and to begin to live in a new relationship with God. God had claim them as God’s own, adopted them into God’s family and filled them with the Holy Spirit. God had moved mightily in their lives. Their baptism reminded them of all that God had done.
We have been baptized. Our baptisms are both demonstrations that changes are taking place in our lives and celebrations of what God has done and is doing in our lives. We begin each new day remembering our baptism, celebrating God’s grace, living in God’s love and seeking to serve others with our talents and abilities. No matter what the day holds for us, it is still true, “We have been baptized!”
Thank you, Lord, for restoring your relationship with us. Grant us the ability to live each day in your presence. Amen.