Paul knew that the girl’s masters would not be
happy with him for delivering her because she
made them much money from her soothsaying.
It would have been easier for Paul and
Silas to have ignored her and gone about their
business, but they stood for righteousness; and
she needed deliverance. Having the courage
to stand for Christ means doing the right thing
even if it makes things harder on you.
Persecuted for Christ’s Sake
After Paul had cast the spirit out in the name
of Jesus, the girl’s masters went after Paul and
Silas and took them to the rulers. There they
accused them of teaching customs that were
not lawful for the Roman people. It is sad
when people put money ahead of the welfare
of others. For the love of money is the root of
all evil (I Timothy 6:10).
The people considered Paul and Silas to be
troublemakers, and they rose up against them.
And the magistrates rent off their clothes,
and commanded to beat them. And when
they had laid many stripes upon them, they
cast them into prison, charging the jailor
to keep them safely: Who, having received
such a charge, thrust them into the inner
prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks
(Acts 16:22–24).
There will be times when you will suffer
for doing what is right too; but hold on to the
promises of God and know that in the end,
God will work it all out for good. For it is better,
if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for
well doing, than for evil doing (I Peter 3:17).
Child of God, would you remain faithful
to Christ if you were threatened with being
beaten and imprisoned? Do you have the courage
to stand for Christ like Paul and Silas did?
Rejoice Amidst Trials
Paul and Silas were treated like dangerous
criminals and placed in the innermost part of
the prison, but it didn’t get them down. Instead,
they used it as an opportunity to pray and sing
praises all night. And at midnight Paul and
Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God:
and the prisoners heard them (Acts 16:25).
Those prisoners probably wondered how
Paul and Silas could be singing and rejoicing
in prison; but I’m sure the peace, love
and anointing of God that flowed through
their voices affected the men in a special way.
Always remember that complaining never carries
the anointing of God; it just spreads that
bad spirit to others and hinders them.
Most people would have looked at Paul and
Silas and thought they had had a really bad
day; but when you have the courage to stand
for Jesus, you will always have a good day.
Jesus said, Blessed are ye, when men shall
revile you, and persecute you, and shall say
all manner of evil against you falsely, for my
sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for
great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted
they the prophets which were before
you (Matthew 5:11,12).
Paul and Silas didn’t consider how they were
being treated by people or the fact that they
had been beaten and were in pain. It looked
like there was no hope for them, but they were
looking at the positive—they had freed that
girl’s soul from the bondage of Satan. They
were trusting that God would move for them.
God Had a Plan
While Paul and Silas were rejoicing, 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 bands were loosed (Acts 16:26).
The earthquake provided a great opportunity
for all the prisoners to escape, but no one
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