Dramatic Happenings at Philippi

“And when it was day, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, ‘Let those men go.’ So the keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace.’ But Paul said to them, ‘They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let him come themselves and get us out.’ “ –Acts 16:35-37 (NKJV. Read Acts 16: 16-40).

Paul, a Roman citizen as well as a Jew and a Christian, used his Roman citizenship while he was on his mission to Philippi in Macedonia to get fair treatment at the hand of the magistrates. High drama occurred in Philippi. Let’s review some of it.

Paul, Silas and Timothy found Lydia and a group of women praying by the riverside on the Sabbath. Paul preached the way of salvation in Jesus Christ to them. Lydia, the businesswoman, and her entire household, believed and were baptized.

Then a young slave girl, a soothsayer or fortune teller, followed the missionaries, declaring that they were servants of God sent to preach salvation. Paul, after several days of thus being followed by the slave girl, turned and commanded the evil spirit to come out of her. The girl’s masters did not like her not having her gift of divination, for they made great profits from her soothsaying. They reported the missionaries to the magistrates, whereupon, without trial of any sort, Paul and Silas (Timothy is not listed with them here) were publicly stripped and beaten and cast into the dungeon of the prison, in stocks. At midnight, they prayed and sang, with al the other prisoners listening. A sudden earthquake came, the prisoners’ chains were loosed and the prison doors opened. The jailer, fearing all the prisoners had fled, was greatly concerned. But Paul assured him that all the prisoners were still there. And then the jailer asked that most important question: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

Paul’s answer to the jailer was classic for Christian witnessing: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31). Instead of a jailbreak that notable night, there was a break for the jailer and his household from pagan belief and sin’s imprisonment. He and his household believed, the imprisoned missionaries received gentle treatment and washing of their wounds, and were fed a good meal.

When morning came, the magistrates sent word to let the missionary prisoners go. But wait! Paul said (and I paraphrase), “We’re Roman citizens, and you have beaten us without trial, imprisoned us, and now you want to let us go quietly? No way! Let the magistrates come themselves to release us.” And, fearing the consequences, the magistrates came asking the missionaries in a more respectful way to leave the city, for by this time they feared the consequences of their untoward actions and treatment of prisoners without benefit of trial.

The missionaries went back to Lydia’s house and spent time encouraging the believers before they left Philippi. This would not be the last time Paul called upon his Roman citizenship to allow him to keep preaching the gospel of Christ. His stand in Philippi and elsewhere seems to strongly emphasize his belief stated in I Corinthians 9:19-23, summed up in verse 22: “I have become all things to all men that I might by all means save some.” The dramatic happenings in Philippi, first stop of the missionary team on the European continent, were proof indeed that God was with them and that the Spirit of God was working in a mighty way to bring conversion and new life to all who believed the message so boldly preached by God’s anointed spokesmen. And ever it has been so, even to this present age. God and dedicated followers become a majority against great odds. Praise be to God!

Ethelene Dyer Jones; Wednesday, April 28, 2010