Prison Bars

Acts 16: 16-40

BY: ALGER PRAJES

22 Then the multitude rose up
together against them; and the
magistrates tore off their
clothes and
commanded them to be beaten
with rods. 23 And when they
had laid many stripes on
them, they threw them into
prison, commanding the jailer
to keep them
securely. 24 Having received
such a charge, he put them
into the inner prison and
fastened their feet in the
stocks.
11 Therefore, sailing from
Troas, we ran a straight
course to Samothrace,
and the next day came to
Neapolis, 12 and from
there to Philippi, which is
the foremost city of that
part of Macedonia, a
colony. And we were
staying in that city for
some days. 

Acts 16:11-12
16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave
girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought
her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 This girl
followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are
the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the
way of salvation.” 18 And this she did for many days.
But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I
command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of
her.” And he came out that very hour. 19 But when her
masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized
Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the
authorities.
 Acts 16:16-19
 PYTHON’S SPIRIT

One of the only named spirits in the Bible, the python spirit is a coiling spirit that works
to squeeze out the breathe of life (the Holy Spirit) and cut off your lifeline to God
(prayer). To accomplish its deadly agenda, this spirit will remind you of wounds from
your past, surround you with ungodly influences that tempt you to compromise the Word
of God—or just barrage you with circumstances that knock the wind out of you.
22 Thenthe multitude rose up together against them; and the
magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be
beaten with rods. 23 And when they had laid many stripes on
them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to
keep them securely.
  24 HAVING
RECEIVED SUCH A
CHARGE, HE PUT
THEM INTO THE
INNER PRISON
AND FASTENED
THEIR FEET IN
THE STOCKS.
 There are unlawful things Paul and Silas
received.
Dragging in the Marketplace is against Roman
Law

Giving punishment without investigation

Punishing a Roman Officer

Casting two Roman citizens/officer to prison

  25 BUT AT
MIDNIGHT PAUL
AND SILAS WERE
PRAYING AND
SINGING HYMNS
TO GOD, AND THE
PRISONERS WERE
LISTENING TO
THEM. 
The apostles were left in a very painful condition. Their
lacerated and bleeding backs were in contact with the
rough stone floor, while their feet were elevated and bound
fast in the stocks. In this unnatural position they suffered
extreme torture; yet they did not groan nor complain, but
conversed with and encouraged each other, and praised
God with grateful hearts that they were found worthy to
suffer shame for his dear name. Paul was reminded of the
persecution he had been instrumental in heaping upon the
disciples of Christ, and he was devoutly thankful that his
eyes had been opened to see, and his heart to feel, the
glorious truths of the gospel of the Son of God, and that he
had been privileged to preach the doctrine which he had
once despised. [p. 76] Sketches From The Life of Paul
26 Suddenly there was a great
earthquake, so that the
foundations of the prison were
shaken; and immediately all the
doors were opened and
everyone’s chains were
loosed. 27 And the keeper of the
prison, awaking from sleep and
seeing the prison doors open,
supposing the prisoners had
fled, drew his sword and was
about to kill himself. 28 But Paul
called with a loud voice,
saying, “Do yourself no harm,
for we are all here.”
29 Then he called for a light, ran
in, and fell down trembling
before Paul and Silas. 30 And he
brought them out and said, “Sirs,
what must I do to be saved?”
31 So they said, “Believe on the
Lord Jesus Christ, and you will
be saved, you and your
household.” 32 Then they spoke
the word of the Lord to him and
to all who were in his house.

Acts 16 
32 Then they spoke the
word of the Lord to him
and to all who were in his
house. 33 And he took
them the same hour of the
night and
washed their stripes. And
immediately he and all
his family were baptized.
Acts 16
ACTS 16: 34
ACTS 16: 37
The apostles viewed their labors in Philippi as not in vain.
They met much opposition and persecution; but the
intervention of Providence in their behalf, and the conversion
of the jailer and all his house, more than atoned for the
disgrace and suffering they had endured. The Philippians
saw represented in the deportment and presence of mind of
the apostles the spirit of the religion of Jesus Christ. The
apostles might have fled when the earthquake opened their
prison doors and loosened their fetters; but that would have
been an acknowledgment that they were criminals, which
would have been a disgrace to the gospel of Christ; the jailer
would have been exposed to the penalty of death, and the
general influence would have been bad. Chapter 7 SLP
The Philippians could but acknowledge the nobility and
generosity of the apostles in their course of action,
especially in forbearing to appeal to a higher power
against the magistrates who had persecuted them. The
news of their unjust imprisonment and miraculous
deliverance, [p. 81] was noised about through all that
region, and brought the apostles and their ministry
before the notice of a large number who would not
otherwise have been reached. Paul's labors at Philippi
resulted in the establishment of a church there, whose
numbers steadily increased. His example of zeal and
devotion, above all, his willingness to suffer for Christ's
sake, exerted a deep and lasting influence upon the
converts to the faith. They highly prized the precious
truths for which the apostle had sacrificed so much, and
they gave themselves, with whole-hearted devotion, to
the cause of their Redeemer. SLP Chapter 7