Acts 16:16-40.
Acts 16.16-40
Paul and Silas Are Put in Jail
"One day on our way to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave
girl. She had a spirit in her that gave her the power to tell the
future. By doing this she made a lot of money for her owners. The
girl followed Paul and the rest of us and kept yelling, "These men are
servants of the Most High God! They are telling you how to be saved."
This went on for several days. Finally, Paul got so upset that he
turned and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ, I order
you to leave this girl alone!" At once the evil spirit left her.
When the girl's owners realized that they had lost all chances for
making more money, they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them into
court. They told the officials, "These Jews are upsetting our city!
They are telling us to do things we Romans are not allowed to do."
The crowd joined in the attack on Paul and Silas. Then the officials
tore the clothes off the two men and ordered them to be beaten with a
whip. After they had been badly beaten, they were put in jail, and
the jailer was told to guard them carefully. The jailer did as he was
told. He put them deep inside the jail and chained their feet to heavy
blocks of wood.
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God,
while the other prisoners listened. Suddenly a strong earthquake
shook the jail to its foundations. The doors opened, and the chains
fell from all the prisoners.
When the jailer woke up and saw that the doors were open, he thought
that the prisoners had escaped. He pulled out his sword and was about
to kill himself. But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! No one has
escaped."
The jailer asked for a torch and went into the jail. He was shaking
all over as he knelt down in front of Paul and Silas. After he had
led them out of the jail, he asked, "What must I do to be saved?"
They replied, "Have faith in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved!
This is also true for everyone who lives in your home."
Then Paul and Silas told him and everyone else in his house about the
Lord. While it was still night, the jailer took them to a place where
he could wash their cuts and bruises. Then he and everyone in his home
were baptized. They were very glad that they had put their faith in
God. After this, the jailer took Paul and Silas to his home and gave
them something to eat.
The next morning the officials sent some police with orders for the
jailer to let Paul and Silas go. The jailer told Paul, "The officials
have ordered me to set you free. Now you can leave in peace."
But Paul told the police, "We are Roman citizens, and the Roman
officials had us beaten in public without giving us a trial. They
threw us into jail. Now do they think they can secretly send us away?
No, they cannot! They will have to come here themselves and let us
out."
When the police told the officials that Paul and Silas were Roman
citizens, the officials were afraid. So they came and apologized.
They led them out of the jail and asked them to please leave town.
But Paul and Silas went straight to the home of Lydia, where they saw
the Lord's followers and encouraged them. Then they left."
Father God, forgive my sins. Thank you for sending Jesus Christ down
to die on the cross and for sending his blood for me. Three days later
you resurrected him. I accept that. I invite Jesus Christ into my
heart as my Lord and savior. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
God bless you.
Paul and Silas Are Put in Jail
"One day on our way to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave
girl. She had a spirit in her that gave her the power to tell the
future. By doing this she made a lot of money for her owners. The
girl followed Paul and the rest of us and kept yelling, "These men are
servants of the Most High God! They are telling you how to be saved."
This went on for several days. Finally, Paul got so upset that he
turned and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ, I order
you to leave this girl alone!" At once the evil spirit left her.
When the girl's owners realized that they had lost all chances for
making more money, they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them into
court. They told the officials, "These Jews are upsetting our city!
They are telling us to do things we Romans are not allowed to do."
The crowd joined in the attack on Paul and Silas. Then the officials
tore the clothes off the two men and ordered them to be beaten with a
whip. After they had been badly beaten, they were put in jail, and
the jailer was told to guard them carefully. The jailer did as he was
told. He put them deep inside the jail and chained their feet to heavy
blocks of wood.
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God,
while the other prisoners listened. Suddenly a strong earthquake
shook the jail to its foundations. The doors opened, and the chains
fell from all the prisoners.
When the jailer woke up and saw that the doors were open, he thought
that the prisoners had escaped. He pulled out his sword and was about
to kill himself. But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! No one has
escaped."
The jailer asked for a torch and went into the jail. He was shaking
all over as he knelt down in front of Paul and Silas. After he had
led them out of the jail, he asked, "What must I do to be saved?"
They replied, "Have faith in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved!
This is also true for everyone who lives in your home."
Then Paul and Silas told him and everyone else in his house about the
Lord. While it was still night, the jailer took them to a place where
he could wash their cuts and bruises. Then he and everyone in his home
were baptized. They were very glad that they had put their faith in
God. After this, the jailer took Paul and Silas to his home and gave
them something to eat.
The next morning the officials sent some police with orders for the
jailer to let Paul and Silas go. The jailer told Paul, "The officials
have ordered me to set you free. Now you can leave in peace."
But Paul told the police, "We are Roman citizens, and the Roman
officials had us beaten in public without giving us a trial. They
threw us into jail. Now do they think they can secretly send us away?
No, they cannot! They will have to come here themselves and let us
out."
When the police told the officials that Paul and Silas were Roman
citizens, the officials were afraid. So they came and apologized.
They led them out of the jail and asked them to please leave town.
But Paul and Silas went straight to the home of Lydia, where they saw
the Lord's followers and encouraged them. Then they left."
Father God, forgive my sins. Thank you for sending Jesus Christ down
to die on the cross and for sending his blood for me. Three days later
you resurrected him. I accept that. I invite Jesus Christ into my
heart as my Lord and savior. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
God bless you.
Comments