What gets you celebrating? A new house, a new car, a raise, unloading that old beater, clear blue skies on your day off, ice cream, a call from your girlfriend, money in your checking account, friends? How about getting tossed in the slammer! That’s what happened to Paul and Silas.
A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So he took no chances but put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. Around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.(Acts 16:22-25 NLT)
Did I read that correctly? Paul and Silas were stripped, severely beaten, imprisoned, and then stuffed in a solitary confinement cell with their feet in stocks! I have a hard time giving thanks at a red light so I would hate to imagine my mood after walking in their shoes for a night. Celebration would be the furthest thing from my mind. But there they were praying and singing hymns to God.
What was it with those guys? What jump-started their prison party?
I think it was simply prayer and praise. It was recognizing God in all his greatness and leaning on him in all their problems. Sounds like a good plan for today! Why not start your day like Paul and Silas finished theirs – with prayer and praise.