A Midnight Deliverance

A Midnight Deliverance

When a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, all except the apostles were scattered throughout the land of Judea and Samaria. Saul, a Roman soldier was ravaging the church, and he would enter house after house, drag off men and women and put them in prison. Still breathing threats and murder to the disciples of the Lord, he went to the high priest and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way (Jesus),either men or women he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he was travelling to Damascus a bright light shown on him and falling down to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”.  “Who are you, Lord?” he asked. “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting”. After being instructed by the Lord to go to the city, he got up from the ground but even though his eyes were open he could see nothing. His companions stood speechless as to what they had seen and later helped him to the city. After three days the Lord had appeared to him in a vision and after being ministered to, his eyes were opened. From that day on he walked a different path, proclaiming the Messiah. Later changing his name to Paul, he began his missionary journeys.

Now moving through many places, teaching and encouraging the churches he came across Silas (also known as Silvanus). Silas was a member of the early Christian community and was also a prophet himself. Doing the similar works as Paul did, he (Paul) found it appropriate to take along with him this man to continue his missionary works. Together they set sail to many different places including Europe. They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, and when they had come to Mysia, they were led by the Spirit to Troas and then to Macedonia. It was in Philippi, a Roman colony and also a leading city of that district of Macedonia where they stayed there many days.

On a Sabbath day they were teaching outside the city gates near a river, where there was a place of prayer. They sat and spoke to the women gathered there. Now in Jewish s laws, a synagogue could be formed wherever there were ten male heads of households who could be of regular attendance. Failing this, a place of prayer under the open sky and near a river or sea was to be arranged. Paul had already been there a few days and knowing there was no synagogue in Philippi, he and Silas went out of the city for find a place of prayer. A Woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira who worshiped God was listening to what Paul was saying and her heart was touched by the Lord. Soon she and her household believed and were baptised. Lydia’s home was where the church later met (after Paul had finished his ministry there) and it was the first church in Philippi.

Now it so happened as they were on their way to prayer they met a slave girl who made a large profit for her owners by fortune telling. For many days following Paul and Silas she used to cry out “these men are servants of the Most High God who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation. Paul was greatly aggravated by this and turning to the spirit cast it out in the name of Jesus. And it left her right away. When the men whom she had worked for had seen that their hope of profit had gone they seized and dragged Paul and Silas in the market place to the authorities. They falsely accused them both for disturbing the city and for promoting false customs and practices. Soon the crowd joined in the attack against them and so the magistrate ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. Later being thrown into jail, orders were sent to keep them securely guarded. So the jailer secured them in the inner prison with their feet in the stocks.

Even though Paul and Silas were badly wounded, bound in chains and in a dark prison with absolutely no chance of escape, at about midnight, they continued praying and singing hymns to God. Then suddenly there was a violent earthquake that shook the foundations of the jail and all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loose. The Roman jailers back then were assassinated especially if special ordered prisoners’ had escaped under their guard. On seeing this the jailer drew a sword to kill himself thinking they had escaped. But just then Paul called out in a loud voice “Don’t harm yourself we are all here”. Trembling with fear the jailer called for lights rushed in and fell down before Paul and Silas asking them “what must I do to be saved?”.  For he now knew that they really belonged to the God Most High. They said “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved. You and your household”.

Taking them to his place at that very hour and washing their wounds and fed them. They spoke the message of the Lord to him and everyone in his house and right away he and all his family were baptised. Coming to know God, the jailer was overjoyed and he let them stay the night at his place. It was one hard day and a long night for Paul and Silas but it was all counted worthy for the Lord.

At daylight, orders had come from the magistrate to release Paul and Silas. Immediately the jailer reported it to Paul telling him that they could now go in peace. After all they had seen what had happened and Paul refusing to go said “they beat us in public without a trial, and although we are roman citizens, threw us in Jail. And they are going to let us out quietly? Certainly not! On the contrary let them escort us out!”. The magistrates did not know that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. So when they heard of this they were all afraid, filled with fear they came and apologised to them and escorted them out and urged them to leave the town. Their work in Philippe was accomplished as to what the Lord had led them to do. It was to deliver the people so as to start a church in Philippe.

Lydia’s home became the first church there with its members being herself and her household, the delivered slave girl who was demon possessed and the jailer with his household. The Gospel was to reach all levels of society, even today. But people aren’t very different today than bible times.

If you belong to the Most High, you are certainly under his care and protection. No matter how many turn against you, He is a just God and is true to his Word when he says “I will never leave you nor forsake you”. Just as he was with Paul and Silas through their discomfort, he will do the same for you and I also delivering all those who believe in His Name. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Based on the Holy Book of Acts