Exploring the Book of Acts: PersecutionSample

Prison Ministry

Immediately after his conversion and throughout his ministry, Paul experienced persecution from fellow Jews (e.g. Acts 9:23-24, 29; 14:5). In the Roman colony of Philippi, the source of Paul’s persecution expanded to Gentiles. Due to a disturbance in the marketplace, Paul found himself in a Roman jail. The owners of a slave were angry that Paul had cast out the demon that enabled her to tell fortunes. Without a fair hearing, Paul and Silas were stripped, flogged, and placed in the deepest part of the city jail. Yet God’s intervention led to salvation for their jailer and his household, along with Paul and Silas’ release.

Read Acts 16:16-34 and then consider:

1. Why were Paul and Silas arrested? What motivated their accusers? What motivated the local authorities?
2. What do you notice about Paul and Silas' reaction in the midst of being beaten and imprisoned without a trial? How did singing and prayer enable them to endure their suffering?
3. The jailer knew that he would be executed if any of the prisoners escaped (see Acts 12:18-19). Why did Paul and Silas stop the jailer from killing himself? Why did he become a believer?
4. How does the conversion of the Philippian jailer challenge our views of persecution?