About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
Thoughts on Today’s Verse…
Falsely imprisoned, Paul and Silas were dragged and beaten by the crowd, beaten with rods, and then severely flogged — yes beaten three times (Acts 16:19-23). After this abuse, they were placed in prison, chained, and locked in stocks. Under such horrible circumstances, they managed to praise God in hymns and pray to their Father in Heaven. Under this kind of pressure, their faith caught the attention of the other hardened prisoners, who listened to them and were moved by their faith and praise. We must be reminded that over the years of Christian witness, some of the most effective times of evangelism happened because Christians, disciples of Jesus, remained faithful and joyous despite persecution and harassment. Nothing should limit our prayer and praise. God will use our worship under persecution to reach the hearts of those in the most difficult of places!
My Prayer…
Holy Father, in times of adverse reactions against me because of my faith, I pray that you will make me a loving, respectable, and forceful witness for Jesus. I ask this not so that I can boast, but so that others can more fully know your grace and come to Jesus to be saved. In the name of my Savior, Jesus, I pray. Amen.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
