SOURCE: https://latterdaysaintmag.com/come-follow-me-29-the-lord-had-called-us-for-to-preach-the-gospel-acts-16-21/
From Meridian Magazine Podcast:
From Meridian Magazine Podcast:
Paul’s First Imprisonment—Philippi
Paul went to Philippi, which was the major city of Macedonia, and there, in addition to his teaching, he cast out a spirit of divinition from a woman who had made her masters much money by soothsaying. This action hit her masters right in the pocketbook, and, seeing their false means of making a living evaporate, they took Paul and Silas before the magistrates saying, “These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive” (Acts 16:20, 21).
Maurine
The magistrates beat them, laid many stripes upon them and cast them into the inner prison. Our modern idea of prison gives us no idea what those ancient dungeons were like. The ancient writer Lucian gives us one account of what those prisons were like: “Consequently, he sickened at length and was ill, as might be expected in view of the fact that he slept on the ground and at night could not even stretch out his legs, which were confined in the stocks. By day, to be sure, the collar was sufficient, together with manacles upon one hand; but for the night he had to be fully secured by his bonds. Moreover, the stench of the room and its stifling air (since many were confined in the same place, cramped for room, and scarcely able to draw breath), the clash of iron, the scanty sleep—all these conditions were difficult and intolerable for such a man, unwonted to them and unschooled to a life so rigorous” (Lucian, Toxaris, 29).
Thomas Wayment wrote, “Living conditions were intolerable because those in prison were not expected to live very long. The terrible conditions of Roman prisons led to the death of many prior to their formal executions.”
Scot
Yet here, almost unbelievably, we get one of the most indelible scenes in all of scripture. Their feet fast in the stocks so they cannot move, “at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”
What is this? They are singing praises to God while they are in such a totally miserable condition? How can this be? Who would sing and thank the Lord while in a dungeon?
Maurine
Wouldn’t you be tempted to say, “Dear Lord, You sent me here. You told me to come, and yes, we’ve been able to teach many, but look where I am now? I am in a dungeon and I am miserable. Get me out of here fast.” That’s the temptation, but this very singing in the stocks by Paul and Silas is another confirmation of their witness of the Lord. They knew Him. They understood His goodness. They knew that their missions came with sacrifice and the Lord wouldn’t straighten every broken path, as long as one person has agency to incarcerate another. But they had faith that the Lord knew how to do His own work. They had a sure witness of Him and should life be tough, even excruciatingly tough, they knew who they served and whose they were. They were giving gratitude in all things. It is nearly breathtaking to contemplate this scene.
I think of this scene every time life seems particularly hard to me and I remember that if Paul can sing in the stocks, maybe I can praise the Lord even in the toughest times. Our admonition is to give gratitude in all things.
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