Wait, What??

They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. [Acts 16.23]

"They" were Paul and Silas and they were in Philippi.

Why?

That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there. [Acts 16.9-10]

Paul and Silas were convinced that Paul's vision of a man calling them to Macedonia was of God and yet, there in Macedonia, they were severely beaten and thrown into prison.

Well, that didn't work out too well, did it?

So what did Paul and Silas do?

Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. [Acts 16.25]

Paul and Silas were remaining true to the calling to this area by praying and singing hymns...

As much as I have believed this event is about worshiping God in dire circumstances, I am seeing it in a different light today... Wait, what??

What does praying do? It communicates with God. Is God there tangibly? In all but extreme cases, no. So, by praying to an unseen God, Paul and Silas were demonstrating faith. Other prisoners were watching. In addition to praying, Paul and Silas sang hymns. Hymns are nothing less than God's story set to music.

The point I wish to make is that Paul and Silas were called to Macedonia (including Philippi) to minister God's Word and encourage faith in Christ. And, that they did! Prison didn't stop them, but instead gave them a captive audience who was apparently quite engaged in what was going on because they did not flee when they easily could have.

Paul and Silas were not going with "Plan B" in prison! They were still fixated on "Plan A" (sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ in demonstration of faith and sharing the Word of God)!

When we feel called by God to do something, we should simply do it - whether we are in prison or free. That's the point as I see it today.

Father, thank You for further understanding of Paul's and Silas' encounter with prison.