Paul was on his second missionary journey, traveling to share the gospel and strengthen believers.
Once, as we were on our way to prayer, a slave girl met us who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She made a large profit for her owners by fortune-telling. As she followed Paul and us she cried out, “These men, who are proclaiming to you a way of salvation, are the servants of the Most High God.” She did this for many days.
Paul finally turned to her, commanding the evil spirit to leave in Jesus’ name—and it did. But her owners, who had been profiting off her fortune-telling, were furious. They stirred up a crowd, dragged Paul and Silas to the authorities, and had them publicly stripped, severely beaten with rods, and thrown into the deepest part of the prison, their feet locked in stocks.
If that were me, I’d probably be a mess—whining, crying, sulking, and blaming everyone for the injustice I’d suffered. But Paul and Silas? Their response was entirely different.
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
This is incredible. There they were, bruised and bleeding, chained in the darkest part of the prison—yet they were praying and singing hymns to God. And notice that last part: “the prisoners were listening to them.” When life turns unfair, people around us are watching. They’re listening to how we respond. I bet those prisoners thought Paul and Silas were out of their minds—until this happened.
Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose.
The story doesn’t end there. God moved powerfully: the earthquake opened every door and loosed every chain, yet none of the prisoners fled. The jailer, fearing the gruesome penalty for escaped prisoners, was about to take his own life—but Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We’re all here!” Shaken, the jailer brought them to his home, washed their wounds, and that night, he and his entire family placed their faith in Jesus.
What a story! God worked miracle after miracle—take a moment to list them from this passage. But let’s reflect: what was the impact of believers who, despite being wronged, chose to worship and praise God? How did their response affect the prisoners, the jailer, and his family? And how did God respond to their faith?
We live in a world full of injustices. One day, God will make all things right. Until then, how will we respond? When we choose to worship and praise God, no matter the circumstance, what eternal impact might He bring through us?
