Once upon a time there was a man named Paul. He traveled through many cities with a friend named Silas to tell people about Jesus. One day they came to a city and began to help the people there and tell them how much God loves them.
But not everyone was happy about what Paul and Silas did. Some men became very angry and said, “These men are causing trouble in our city!” They brought Paul and Silas to the judges, and they ordered them to be thrown into prison. The guards put heavy chains on them, and they were forced to go to a dark and cold cell.
It was a difficult time for Paul and Silas. But they were not sad. Even in prison, they trusted in God. In the night, when all was quiet, Paul and Silas began to sing. They sang songs of praise to God, very loudly and full of joy. All the prisoners listened to them.
Then something incredible happened: suddenly the earth shook so hard that the doors of the prison burst open and the chains fell off all the prisoners! The prison guard woke up and saw the doors open. He was afraid that the prisoners had run away. But Paul cried, “Don’t worry! We’re all still here!”
The guard was amazed and asked, “What do I have to do to believe in Jesus and be saved?” Paul and Silas told him about Jesus, and the guard was so happy that he and his family believed in Jesus and were immediately baptized.
On the same day, the judge released Paul and Silas. They went to the people who had helped them and told them how great and powerful God is.
Message of history
When we praise God, even when it is difficult, he shows us that he is always with us and helps us. God is powerful and loves us very much.
Bible passage
The story of Paul and Silas in prison singing praises can be found in Acts 16:16-40:
Acts 16:16-40 (Schlachter 2000): “Now it came to pass, as we were going to prayer, that we met a maidservant who had a divination spirit. She brought her masters great profit by divination. She followed Paul and us, crying out and saying, “These people are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” She did this for many days. But Paul was greatly grieved at this, and turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he went out at the same hour. But when their masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the market place to the rulers, and led them to the centurions, saying, “These people who are Jews are disturbing our city, and are preaching customs which we ought not to accept or practice, because we are Romans.” And the crowd rose up against them, and the captains tore off their clothes and had them beaten. And after they had given them many blows, they threw them into prison and commanded the jailer to keep them safe. At this command, he threw her into the inner prison and locked her feet in the stick. At midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God; and the prisoners listened to them. Suddenly, a great earthquake occurred, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and the fetters of all were loosed. But when the jailer woke up from his sleep and saw the doors of the prison open, he drew his sword and wanted to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” Then he asked for light, rushed into it, and fell trembling before Paul and Silas; and he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you and your house will be saved.” And they preached to him the word of the Lord and to all who were in his house. And he took them to himself in the same hour of the night, and washed off their welts; and immediately he was baptized, he and all his family. And he brought them into his house, and set a meal before them, and rejoiced with all his household that he had believed in God. But when day came, the captains sent the bailiffs and said, “Release those people.” And the jailer proclaimed these words to Paul, “The centurions said that you should be released.” So go now, go in peace! And Paul said to them, “They have publicly beaten us, who are Romans, and thrown us into prison without judgment, and now they are secretly casting us out?” Not so, but let them themselves come and lead us out! The bailiffs proclaimed these words to the captains. So they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans, and came and spoke to them, led them out, and begged them to leave the city. So they went out of prison and went to Lydia. And when they had seen and comforted the brothers, they moved on.”
