Paul and Silas Singing in Prison

Discover how Paul and Silas responded with faith and worship when imprisoned in Philippi. Despite brutal treatment, they sang hymns at midnight, demonstrating unwavering trust in God’s plan.

While on his way to a place of prayer in Philippi, Paul encounters a slave girl possessed by a fortune-telling spirit. Although she proclaims his mission, Paul ultimately casts out the demon in the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, Paul and Silas are accused of violating Roman law, beaten with rods, and thrown into the inner prison. What was their response of faith in that place?

[Scripture]

Acts 16:16-26 (ESV)

[16] As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. [17] She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” [18] And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour. [19] But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. [20] And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. [21] They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” [22] The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. [23] And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. [24] Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. [25] About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, [26] and 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 bonds were unfastened. (Acts 16:16-26, ESV)

[Daily Word]

Paul Encounters a Slave Girl with a Spirit of Divination

While on his way to a place of prayer in Philippi, Paul encounters a slave girl who has a spirit of divination.¹ This demon-possessed slave girl followed Paul and his companions for several days, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation” (v. 17). This scene calls to mind the moment when a demon-possessed man cried out upon encountering Jesus (Luke 4:31).

Because the slave girl continued to trouble them for many days, Paul finally turns and commands the spirit possessing her: “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her” (v. 18). Scripture records that the spirit came out of her that very hour. Through this event, the Romans who were present witnessed firsthand the greatness of God’s power.

Financial Loss and Political Accusation

However, once the spirit left the slave girl, she could no longer tell fortunes. In other words, her owners could no longer profit from her. So they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities, intending to press charges against them (v. 19).

However, the slave girl’s owners did not actually accuse Paul and Silas on economic grounds. Instead, they brought political charges, saying, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city” (v. 20). Their accusation was that these Jews had caused unrest by daring to preach a new religion to Romans—one that was difficult for them to understand.

In fact, Rome at the time did not outright prohibit conversion to other religions,² but it did forbid participation in unfamiliar rites that Rome had not officially recognized.³ In other words, the real background of the accusation was that the slave girl had lost her fortune-telling ability after being drawn into an unfamiliar religious practice. The Romans who were present also denounced Paul and Silas, and the magistrates in charge of the trial ordered their clothes to be torn off and commanded that they be beaten with rods. In truth, however, Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, making this a clear violation of the law.

Praise and Prayer from the Inner Prison

After enduring such a severe beating, Paul and Silas were thrown into the inner prison. Yet despite suffering such harsh mistreatment and persecution, they prayed and sang hymns of praise to God (v. 25). Notably, when their prayer is examined in the Greek construction, it was not a plea proclaiming their innocence or a request for release. It was a prayer of pure praise to God. The Scripture also specifically records that the other prisoners were listening to their praise and prayer.

God’s Answer — The Prison Doors Are Opened

At that very moment when the prisoners were listening intently, something remarkable suddenly happened. A great earthquake shook the prison, the doors flew open, and everyone’s chains fell off. This was God’s answer to their worship and prayer.

Fix Your Eyes on God Alone, Even in the Depths of Suffering

In our own lives, we may face suffering and pain like the “inner prison” that Paul and Silas experienced. Yet even in such circumstances, we must recognize this truth: when we fix our eyes on God alone, He is glorified by placing gratitude and praise upon our lips.

God is our Savior and the One worthy of all praise. Therefore, through the trials we endure, God will bring to fulfillment the hope we hold within us. I encourage you to believe that it is when we have confidence not in our own desires, but in what God is about to do, that we truly experience His power — and I pray in the name of the Lord that you would walk in faith and victory today.

Paul and Silas, Acts 16, prison faith, Christian persecution, biblical devotion

Originally published in Korean at bible2u.com