Acts: Go & Be Chapters 10-18Sample

What is this passage saying?

What an incredible response from Paul and Silas. They didn’t sit in the prison cell in anger or questioning. The two disciples prayed and sang hymns for all the prisoners to hear. Then God sends an earthquake to the prison that opened the doors for everyone and unfasted everyone’s bonds. The scared the jailer drew his sward to end his life because he knew if the prisoners escaped his fate would be death. But God’s men were in that prison, and they were not going to let him harm himself. Paul stops him assuring him that everyone is still there. What is remarkable is that other prisoners stayed, they didn’t run for freedom. I can’t help but wonder, with the other prisoners being in such proximity to Paul and Silas as they worshipped in spite of their beating and imprisonment – there might have been some stirring happening in their hearts. The jailer begs the men to led him to Jesus and of course they do. The jailer is baptized and so is his entire family. For the second time we are seeing not just an individual but entire family being saved together. The jailer then fed them, and they rejoiced for what God had done. The Lord ministered to every person in this passage. The next day the magistrates sent word to let the Paul and Silas go. This was not acceptable to Paul- he knew what they did was against the Roman law. They publicly beat and imprisoned two Roman citizens without a trial. Paul told them to come to the prison themselves. Tony Evans notes that Paul was proving to the Church he had just planted in Philippi that he and Silas were innocent men in this matter. Rome was the world’s superpower at the time, there was great protection for Roman citizens, their citizenship afforded them certain rights. The rulers now must ask Paul for forgiveness and rely on his good nature. Lucky for them- Paul and Silas were righteous man and would extend grace.

What is this passage teaching?

You are called to be faithful. When you are faithful to God during trails you don’t have regrets when the trail is over. Paul and Silas were going to act like godly men no matter what. As they sit in jail with extensive injuries they chose to be encouraged by prayer and singing praises to God. We can replicate these exact practices in our own lives. Hardships are promised to us, and we know that, until the hardships come. The books of Acts is giving us a front row seat to learn from Christians when things are great and when things are incredibly hard. Steadiness is a mark of the early Church and the believers in the book of Acts. Can the same word be used for believers in 2023 America? Let’s personalize it- can the same word be used for you? We will fail, but contentment with failure is not an option. Jesus did not leave us where he found us when He saved us. The Holy Spirit was given to you to show you how to live as God originally intended for humans to live. The call is not to be saved and stay put, it is to be saved and live life as Jesus did. Life with Jesus is so wonderful. Why would we want to stay where we were when He found us. Growing in the Lord is how we make sense of this world. Life is hard for everyone- as Christians this is as bad as it gets. And the bad has a purpose that points us to eternity with Jesus.

How do I respond?

Be eternally minded- this takes focused effort. The response will keep being the same- walk with Jesus in prayer, in His word and with His people. He has given you everything you need to grow in faith, now grow.