Acts 16:16-40
16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.
19 When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.”
22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”
29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.
35 When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “Release those men.” 36 The jailer told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.”
37 But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.”
38 The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed. 39 They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city. 40 After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them. Then they left.
Praising Through Pain
When I read Acts 16:16-40, I’m struck by how the story starts out in one direction and then suddenly takes an unexpected turn. It's a lot like life. Paul and Silas are minding their own business, just doing what God has called them to do, when they encounter an enslaved girl with a spirit being exploited by those around her. She’s stuck in bondage, and her “value” to her owners is in her suffering. Paul immediately steps in. He speaks freedom over her, casting out the spirit that’s been controlling her.
What Paul does is simple, yet incredibly impactful. He recognizes her suffering and in Jesus’ name he brings her release. I’m sure lots of us have experienced situations like this. We probably don’t encounter enslaved people on a daily basis, but we are surrounded by people who feel trapped or weighed down. We might even feel this way ourselves, used up by whatever holds us captive. But thanks be to Christ—He offers us the same freedom that He offered the slave girl. Paul’s confidence in Jesus’ power reminds us that we don’t need to live in captivity or feel weighed down by the situations in life that are keeping us from full freedom. When we encounter bondage, we can pray in Jesus’ name just like Paul did and see chains fall!
After the girl’s liberation, Paul and Silas get arrested and beaten because the people in power are angry with what’s happened to their profits. They’re thrown into prison, bruised, sore, and locked up. But what do they do? They start praising God and praying out loud, right there in what might have felt like the darkest, coldest, most hopeless corner of the prison. It’s midnight, but they’re singing and lifting God up.
Honestly, this challenged me. I don’t know about you, but when things get rough for me, praise isn’t my first thought. I immediately go into problem solving mode and try to find a solution on my own, in my own strength. Paul and Silas demonstrate that worship can break through our circumstances and completely transform whatever we are going through. When we praise through pain, it changes something in us, aligning our focus and placing our eyes on God’s faithfulness rather than on our fear. God can use even our deepest struggles as a witness to others. While Paul and Silas sing, the other prisoners are listening—listening to the hope in their voices despite the darkness. It reminds me that sometimes our toughest battles can become someone else’s encouragement.
Then comes the earthquake. The ground shakes, doors fly open, and chains break loose. But instead of running away, Paul and Silas stay put. The jailer is ready to take his own life, fearing the consequences of an empty prison, but Paul calls out to him, offering not just reassurance but ultimately, salvation. Paul and Silas’s faith and integrity save the jailer, and his entire household finds new life in Christ.
I love this part because it’s a reminder that God’s power doesn’t just free us; it opens doors for others too. Sometimes God shows up in ways we don’t expect, and places that seem like they’re at a dead end. But that’s when He does His best work. When things look impossible, God brings light and freedom, not just for us but through us.
Let this story be a reminder that God can bring freedom even when we feel bound. He doesn’t always remove the situation, but He transforms it, inviting us to see the bigger story He’s writing.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for being with me in every circumstance. Help me to praise You even when I feel locked in, knowing You’re always working. Show me the chains I need to let go of and give me courage to trust in Your power to bring freedom. May my life be a light to those around me, that through my journey, others can see Your goodness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Application:
- Take time today to think about an area of your life or a situation where you feel stuck or “imprisoned.” Ask God to show you how to lean on His strength in those moments.
- Spend a few moments in praise, even if things aren’t perfect. Worship has a way of shifting our focus, helping us to remember God’s presence in every situation.
- Look for someone who might need encouragement today. You never know how your words or actions might open a door for them to experience God’s love and freedom.
Author Bio
Breanna is the NextGen Pastor at South Edmonton Alliance Church where she's passionate about mentoring, walking with, and guiding the next generation in their faith journeys while building a welcoming and connected community. Her work focuses on creating meaningful connections and empowering young people to grow in their relationship with God. Outside of ministry, she enjoys reading, playing piano, drinking coffee, and training for a 10-mile race.
@breannasinclair
https://www.seachurch.ca
Luke and Acts taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®
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