Jesus warned His followers that as they faced a hostile world they would also face persecutions, imprisonments, and be brought before rulers for His Names sake, (see Luke 21:12). He had already told them in Matthew 5:11-12 that under such circumstances they should “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad.” In Acts 16 Paul and Silas find themselves under just such circumstances, having cast a fortune-telling demon out of a girl they are arrested, beaten with rods, cast into prison, and their feet fastened in stocks; yet in the darkness of the midnight hour they are praying and singing praises to God, when a violent earthquake shakes the prison, opening the doors and loosing the prisoner’s chains. Yet no one ran out or escaped, and the result of all this was that the jailer and his household were converted to Christ and a church was established in Philippi, Lydia and her household having already been converted to Christ. We must acknowledge that the results of Paul’s imprisonments was not always this spectacular, but he had learned the secret of praise to victory no matter if that victory was experienced in this life, or was in store for that which is to come. Back in Matthew 5 Jesus had said “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven” pointing out that they were in good company. Later, Paul would write back to the church at Philippi from another prison cell “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say, rejoice!” Philippians 4:4. Persecution may take on many forms, but remember when it springs from false accusations for the cause of Christ, rejoice for the day of reward is coming.
Paul And Silas
By Rose Hill
For doing right Paul and Silas got put in jail,
With their feet in stocks, no one to go their bail.
It was midnight and it was so dark,
But what do you know, they sang like a lark.
The prisoners heard them praising God,
And maybe wondered what they were made of.
But that isn’t all; I have more to tell,
God moved with His power and unlocked the cell.
So if things are bad and its black as night,
Just bring praise to God and He’ll make things right.
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission