Paul and Silas’ Response to Persecution

Join me in a little stroll through Acts chapter 16 as we journey with Paul and Silas.

We must minister to those God sends us and work with those God brings alongside us.
Paul on his second missionary journey was accompanied by Silas. Silas was not Paul’s first choice as a traveling partner. Barnabas was Paul’s first missionary partner on the first journey. While planning the second missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas had an argument about whether to take Mark who had abandoned them on the first trip. Paul did not want him to go, but Barnabas insisted. Unable to come to an agreement, they separated and went different ways.

Our plans are not God’s plan—we must follow and obey God. Our good intentions do not equate to God’s plans.
Paul and Silas journeyed across Asia Minor (present day Turkey) revisited many of the churches he had established on his first trip. From one of these churches, they added Timothy to their missionary group. As they trekked west they wanted to go to Bithynia but the Holy Spirit would not permit them. Paul had a dream leading them to go into Macedonia. This would be the first footsteps of the Gospel into European soil. So, they went to Phillipi where they evangelized and ministered.

Women seem to be the ones most open to the Gospel and often are those who work the hardest in the church. Many churches would have ended up with their doors chained shut if not for faithful women.
Some of the first converts was a woman called Lydia and her household. She invited them to stay in her home. Since she was a seller of purple textiles it is likely she was at least somewhat wealthy. They made her home their headquarters in Philippi

What people say does not always reflect the true condition of their spirit. A woman who was a fortune-teller tried to hinder the mission by saying the truth in a slanderous manner.
As they ministered in Philippi, a slave girl who was a fortune-teller frustrated them. The words she used were true but from the source of an evil spirit. The tone must have been in a mocking fashion perhaps like a slur. She trailed behind them saying these words, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaims to us the way of salvation” (Acts 16:17 NKJV).

It is interesting that what she was saying was absolutely true but with an evil intent to interrupt and confuse the preaching of Paul. Paul was irritated by her wicked pestering and commanded the evil spirit to leave her.

The owners of the slave girl caused Paul and Silas trouble and had them beaten with rods and thrown into prison.

God can lead us into difficult places and situations, but He can make good things come from them.
The jailer put them into the inner prison, put their feet in stocks so they could not move. They were in a terrible place. It surely stank with human waste. The ventilation was probably horrible, making it very humid and stuffy.

Praying and worshipping is the first thing we need to do in difficult situations. The other prisoners were listening to their prayers and singing. People are watching us and seeing how we react to difficult times. If you want to know how someone really is, watch them on their worst day.
For most of us, our first response in a bad situation is to complain. But at midnight, the missionaries began to pray and sing hymns. All the prisoners were listening intently to their prayers and songs.

Miracles still happen. We never know what great things God will do in our difficult circumstances. When we are in our worst predicament, God is at His best. Remember when the three Hebrew children were thrown into the fiery furnace—there was a fourth man with them who was the Son of God. Jesus is always with us.
Then God sent a great earthquake to shake the prison. All the doors were opened, and all the chains were loosened from all the prisoners.

The Lord not only came to care for the missionaries but to save the jailer and his family. The jailer fearing that all the prisoners under his responsibility had escaped, drew his sword to kill himself. Paul told him not to harm himself that they were all present, no one had escaped. He fell at their feet asking them what he needed to do to be saved.

Paul seized the moment to share the salvation of Jesus with the jailer. One of the greatest statements is the most simple message of salvation. They simply said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31 NKJV).

A short message of salvation was followed by the first lessons of discipleship. Discipleship must always follow salvation.
The missionaries preached the Word of the Lord to the jailer and his household. They all believed and were baptized.

It is amazing how fast God can turn an enemy into a friend and brother. When Paul and Silas first entered prison, the jailer probably had little pity or mercy for them. But now since Jesus is in his life, he immediately begins to feed them and care for their wounds. The jailer washed their wounds and fed them food. The jailer and his household rejoiced having believed in God.

We cannot let difficulties discourage us from our mission. Nor can we allow one victory to sidelined us for our overall calling of God. We must go forward in our work for God whether our last assignment was a disappointment or a victory. Paul and Silas were set free the next morning. They returned to Lydia’s house and encouraged the other believers and then departed to Thessalonica to continue their mission from God.

(22)  Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods.
(23)  And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely.
(24)  Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
(25)  But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
Acts 16: 22-25

Remember, our reactions are as important as our actions.

Yours on the Journey,

Harry L. Whitt