An Amazing Prison Ministry
Notes
Transcript
As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
We will be focusing on verse 25-34.
In this text we see exaxamples of...
Christian Joy
Christian Witness
Christian Hope
We will explore these themes as we progress through three scenes.
A prison worship service
A tragedy avoided
A family conversion
Scene 1
A Prison Worship Service
A Prison Worship Service
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened.
1a. “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God...”
An example of Christian Joy
While unjustly imprisoned for preaching the gospel and healing a demonic oppressed girl, Paul and Silas aren’t decrying the depravity of the mob and judicial system that put them there.
What are they doing?
They are praying and singing hymns to God.
A better attitude than resentment.
CSB Study Bible: Notes Chapter 16
Rather than being depressed or plotting escape, Paul and Silas displayed confidence in what God had in store for them.
Why is this important?
Look what the text says next...
1b. “and the prisoners were listening to them”
Paul and Silas aren’t singing and praying because they are the showcase of a Christian talent show.
They aren’t flaunting their spirituality for the purpose of being honored by men.
They are responding to their circumstances in a way that gives God glory.
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Luke, as the narrator, is describes something that Paul and Silas may not even be aware of.
Example of Christian Witness
People are watching. Prisoners are watching.
Pastor Tony Merida says, “People pay attention to you when you glorify God in the midst of suffering”
Their response to their circumstances not only give glory to God, but it gives hope to men.
Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
People who observe us giving God glory, in all circumstances, especially in our suffering, have the potential to be brought to the place where they can begin giving God glory too.
Their circumstances, in God’s sovereignty, are about to change.
and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened.
These prisoners witnessed Paul and Silas, beaten, battered, bruised, and bloody dragged into the inner cell. They hear them singing and praising God despite their circumstances, and then they witness God responding with an earthquake.
An earthquake was a normal occurrence for the area. But what isn’t is all the doors opening and all the bonds loosening.
These prisoners had to know God was responding to Paul and Silas.
Example of Christian hope
God can still turn around any situation.
When circumstances are tough
Can people see that you praise God still?
Can they see God working in you and through prayer?
A Prison Worship Service
Scene 2...
A Tragedy Avoided
A Tragedy Avoided
When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas.
“When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.”
This is an example of the antithesis of Christian hope.
The man awakes an interprets his situation as completely hopeless.
Consider the fact that we will find out in just a moment that this man had a family.
He has reason to fear Rome’s response. But consider how Paul and Silas were also in a hopeless situation. Shackled to the floor, singing hymns, and God breaks their chains supernaturallily with an earthquake. This soldier can't even comprehend a rescue like that.
But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.”
Here is another example of Christian Witness.
We have to consider the fact that Paul, Silas, and the other prisoners could have bolted.
It intrigues me that no one left. If Paul and Silas were in the deepest parts of the prison, they wouldn’t be able to stop those closer to the exit.
Their testimony must have impacted the other prisoners.
Not only did it effect the other prisoners, the fact that Paul and Silas stayed and Paul called out to save the man’s life means this man gets a second chance.
He’s saved from his own wrath. He’s saved from the wrath of Rome. And soon, he will be saved from the wrath of God.
I have a feeling Paul and Silas understood that this soldier would have died if they had bolted. I see this as them trusting God in His sovereignty.
It only makes sense to run when bonds break, and gates fling open.
And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas.
Here we see the antithesis of Christian joy.
This man is trembling with fear.
Compare that to Paul and Silas singing and praising.
This man needs Joy, he needs Hope, and he needs these Christian’s to impact him Spiritually.
A tragedy avoided
Scene 3...
A Family Conversion
A Family Conversion
Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
“Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
He needs Hope, he needs joy, he needs Paul and Silas to impact him with the gospel
The most important question asked in the book of Acts.
CSB Study Bible: Notes Chapter 16
He was spared from death in the quake, spared from suicide by the discovery that the prisoners had not fled, and now wanted to be spared from God’s future judgment.
Ironically, the purpose of the earthquake is not to physically save Paul and Silas (who do not leave) but to spiritually save the jailer.
Could this soldier's question be directly tied to Christian Witness?
I wonder if the Jailer asked this question because he had heard Paul and Silas singing as he drifted off to sleep.
The question is met with a direct answer and followed by direct discipleship!
“And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.”
This shows us Christian hope.
Anyone can be saved.
At any time.
By Jesus and because of Jesus.
Revival doesn't need to be in a space of liberty.
Christian joy, Christian hope, and Christian witness are not dependent upon religious liberty.
No government regulation, no violent mob, no earthly force can stop the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Adrian Rogers - “they [those who locked Paul and Silas up] didn’t stop the revival. All they did was just change the location.”
“And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them.
Christian Witness
As in the case of Cornelius and his household (10:48), scholars debate whether only those who personally expressed faith in Jesus were baptized or whether infants were included.
The main point is, the jailer’s conversion led to his family’s conversion.
Paul and Silas impacted him. And he impacted his family with their help.
And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.”
and now, the man who was the antithesis of Christian joy and hope now embodies them both.
Summation and invitation.
Today, you can know the God who gives joy.
Joy from sins forgiven. Joy from reuniting with your creator. Joy from embracing what you were created for.
You were created to know God, walk with God, and enjoy God through worshipping Him.
God has initiated bringing you back into the purpose for which He created you.
Jesus - the gospel.