Paul and Silas: Singing at Midnight | Bible Stories Retold

Their feet fastened in the stalks, and at midnight they were singing. Paul and his friend Silas travelled to Philippi, a proud Roman city in Macedonia. By the river, they met a businesswoman named Lydia, who sold expensive purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart. She believed, and she opened her home to them. But a slave girl started following them. She had a spirit that let her tell fortunes, and her owners made a lot of money from her. Day after day, she shouted, "These men are servants of the most high God." Finally, Paul turned and spoke to the spirit. I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her, and it left her that same house. Her owners saw their money was gone, so they grabbed Paul and Silas, and dragged them to the marketplace. These men are Jews, and they are throwing our city into an uproar. The crowd turned on them, the officials tore off their clothes, and ordered them beaten with rods. After many blows, they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to guard them carefully, so he put them in the inner cell, and locked their feet in the stalks. No trial, no sleep, back's bleeding in the dark. But at midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly there was a great earthquake. The foundations of the prison shook, every door flew open, and everyone's chains came loose. The jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open. He thought the prisoners had escaped, and that his own life was over. He was ready to end it. But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself, we are all here." The jailer called for lights and rushed in, trembling.

He fell down in front of Paul and Silas, then he brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." That same hour of the night, the jailer washed their wounds. Then he and his whole family were baptized. He brought them into his house and set food in front of them, and the whole household was filled with joy, because they had believed in God. In the morning the officials sent word, "Let those men go." But Paul said, "They beat us in public, without a trial, men who are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. Now they want to send us away secretly?" No, let them come themselves and bring us out. The officials were afraid, they came, apologized and walked them out. Paul and Silas went to Lydia's house, encouraged the believers, and went on their way. So who was really free that night? The men in the stocks were singing, the man holding the keys was the one asking how to be saved. Maybe you're in the inner cell tonight, your chains don't decide whether you can pray or whether you can sing. But when the doors flew open, Paul and Silas stayed for the sake of the man who locked them in. Nobody is beyond the reach of God, not the prisoner, not the guard. [Music] You