Description
Following on from last weeks’ reading, this week in Acts 16:16-34, the early church Christians have stayed on in Phillipi, maybe staying with Lydia and her household. The story of Paul and his companions continues as they navigate what it is to be a new Christians in a world that challenges their values and faith and leadership. There are four distinct stories within Acts 16:16-34.\
1. Acts 16:16-18. Paul and his friend Silas are harassed by a slave girl who is working for a local business. Being a slave she has no name, no personal identity or dignity. However, the girl knows who Paul and Silas are, calling them “servants of the most high God, who tell people the way to be saved”. Paul, maybe out of exasperation, tired of being followed and badgered, proclaims the name of Jesus Christ over her and she is healed. But when Paul casts out the evil spirit, the girl’s owners are outraged at the loss of their income.
2. Acts 16:19-24. Paul and Silas are arrested because of a complaint by the slave girl’s owners that they are causing the loss of income and thus allegedly violating Roman rule. The local magistrate beats Paul and Silas and throws them into jail, putting them in the dungeon, locked in chains!
3. Acts 16:25-34. Paul and Silas, witness to the other prisoners with songs and prayer, showing the freedom that they have in Christ. While they are witnessing to others in prison there’s an earthquake. The prison is broken open, but Paul and Silas and the prisoners all stay inside, to show care for the prison warden. The prison warden, seeing what has happened, kneels before Paul and asks, “What can I do to be saved?”
4.Acts 16:31-34. Paul and Silas, tell the prison warden: “Believe in Jesus and you will be saved and your household too”. They were all baptised, this whole household was turned around to Jesus’ way. They offered hospitality, sharing meals, caring for Paul and Silas’ wounds, and celebrating with joy their faith in God.
There are so many layers that testify to God’s Spirit at work, helping others to hear the good news of Jesus, and then enabling those to tell others the good news of Jesus – more people, more like Jesus!
