As Paul begins his second missionary journey, he takes on a couple of new traveling companions. Silas and Timothy. Isn’t interesting that just after the big decision on not having to be circumcised, Paul has Timothy (a Greek) go ahead and be circumcised anyway. Why do you suppose that is? Isn’t this a bit contradictory? Well, this is a different circumstance, I think the point here is that Paul didn’t want to offend anyone by bringing Timothy with him when they were going to the Jewish synagogues (as was their habit of doing, Acts 14:1, also 17:2) to first introduce Christianity to the local people. It would not have been permissible for him to be there and Paul doesn’t want any stumbling blocks to prohibit their progress.
While they are ministering and witnessing to people, an opportunity comes up. For some reason, the Holy Spirit is preventing them from going into Asia, and instead leads them into Macedonia. While in Macedonia, Paul and his companions meet Lydia, a very wealthy woman who is also very godly and she wants to help the team.
It doesn’t take long before opposition comes their way. And Paul and Silas are confronted with an angry crowd, who gets them beaten and flogged and thrown into prison.
Don’t you love how even in the midst of such tragedy, there they are praying and singing and praising God. And the people around them are listening. Then God sends a violent earthquake and releases them from their chains.
The jailer is so distraught over the thought that the prisoners escaped that he is ready to kill himself. But Paul intervenes and instead leads him to Christ. And is able to also lead the jailer’s whole family. What a great moment of rejoicing that must have been. One moment the jailer thinks his life is over and the next moment he has found new life in Christ.
Anyway, when the officials find out that Paul and Silas are Roman citizens their attitude towards them changes abruptly and they want nothing more than to wash their hands of them. But Paul calls them out and forces them to acknowledge what they did.
How often we over react to situations around us. These officials should have listened to the whole story before giving into the crowd. Too many people seem to be more focused on pleasing the crowd. These magistrates are basically given a free pass as Paul and Silas walk away and don’t retaliate. But isn’t it interesting how often we are more concerned about what others think than what God thinks? We act first, say things without having all the facts and persecute people – judge and jury – without asking more questions to get to the truth.
When we are confronted with opposition, how should we handle it? Bad things happened to Paul and Silas and yet good came out of it – many lives were saved. And not only the jailer and his family, but quite possibly some of the other prisoners, and what a witness it was to the group that met at Lydia’s home.
Peace and joy
Pastor Kathy