Paul and Silas were barely into their first stop when they found themselves the victims of false and prejudicial charges, locked up in the depths of a Roman jail, in chains! So what did they do? Moan? Whine? Blame God? Give up? No, their jail term was marked by only two activities: praying and singing hymns to God.The other prisoners were listening as Paul and Silas sang and prayed. The Greek word for “listening” (epekroonto) is a strong word implying that the prisoners were listening intently. It is a reminder to all believers that the world is watching when they suffer. How believers respond to their troubles can play a major role in how others will respond to the Savior.
The answer to the prayers of Paul and Silas came with suddenness and authority in the form of a great earthquake, shaking the foundations of the prison, bursting open doors, and breaking loose the chains of every prisoner. Guards were responsible for their prisoners and would be held accountable for their escape. The punishment was usually the same sentence that would have been the prisoner’s. Sometimes the guards were even executed. Possibly in order to avoid a Roman execution or perhaps to avoid having to live with the shame of his career failure, the jailer drew his sword to kill himself.
Paul intervened, shouting, “We are all here!” Paul was not speaking of just himself and Silas but of all the prisoners. All the prisoners were still there, sitting in a wide open jail, without chains.
The jailer called for lights and torches lit the prison in the middle of the night. Once inside, the jailer fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out, evidently from the inner recesses where the stocks were located. He asked the question, the most profound and important question in life, “What must I do to be saved?”
The answer is “Believe.” It is belief on the Lord Jesus. The result is that you will be saved. Paul and Silas shared the word of the Lord with the jailer’s household. The jailer’s conversion, like Lydia’s, was followed by clear, demonstrated deeds reflecting the reality of the life-change that had occurred internally.
Maybe it was the earthquake that shook some sense into the governing authorities. Whatever the case, Paul and Silas were told by the jailer, who had become a brother in Christ: “You and Silas are free to leave.”
That would not be the last word, however. Paul had often been unfairly treated, beaten, and stoned—all illegally in light of his Roman citizenship. Yet here he chose to speak up. He may have wanted to give the new young church in Philippi some breathing room from the local authorities. The word would spread that Paul and Silas had been found innocent and freed by the leaders, expressing the truth that believers should not be persecuted—especially if they were Roman citizens, as were Paul and Silas.
Thessalonica was one of the wealthiest and most influential cities in Macedonia. This is the first city where Paul’s teachings attracted a large group of socially prominent citizens. The most important Roman highway (the Egnatian Way)—extending from Rome all the way to the Orient—went through Thessalonica.
After his ministry in Thessalonica, Paul would write two letters to the Thessalonian believers, encouraging them to remain faithful and to refuse to listen to false teachers who tried to refute their beliefs.
Paul’s ministry was following its usual course. The gospel was preached in the synagogues with meager response from the Jews. The Gentiles, however, were responding in great numbers. Then, as had been the custom, the Jewish leaders became jealous and set their sights on running these “heretics” out of town or worse. They gathered some worthless fellows from the streets to form a mob and start a riot. They went to the home of Jason, an early Thessalonian convert who, like Lydia, had convinced the travelers to stay in his home.
The mob had not found Paul and Silas at Jason’s house. So the mob grabbed Jason and some of the other believers and brought them before the city council. Their accusations, like all good lies, bore some resemblance to the truth but were presented in their worst light. Paul and Silas were not guilty of treason against Caesar just because they declared allegiance to the King of kings, for Christ’s Kingdom is of an entirely different sort than Caesar’s was.
SO WHAT? (what will i do with what i have read today?)
As I read this passage today, I am struck by the integrity of Paul and Silas. An open jail cell, no more chains - I'm walking - no running - out of there. But Paul and Silas saw the big picture. They knew what their leaving would cost the Jailer his life. His salvation was more important than their freedom.
Lord, would to God that You would build into me that kind of integrity and that kind of love. Would to God that You would build into me that kind of selflessness.
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 (NIV)
Folks, this is spiritual maturity. This is humility. Humility is not thinking less of yourselves, it's not thinking of yourselves at all. Humility is putting the needs of others ahead of yourself everyday. This is impossible on our own. It happens when we let Christ have His proper place in our lives.
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." Philippians 2:3-5 (NIV)
Lord, help me die to me today. Make me more like you. "He must become greater; I must become less." John 3:30 (NIV)
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