Bible Studies

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The Scriptures
Acts 16:16-34 – Un-Jailed Love
Key Verses: (NCV)

• 16: “Once, while we were going to the place for prayer, a servant girl met us. She had a special spirit in her, and she earned a lot of money for her owners by telling fortunes.” – In this story, still in the city of Philippi, Paul and Silas have begun to spread the Gospel throughout the city.
  
  
• 17: “This girl followed Paul and us, shouting ‘These men are servants of the Most High God. They are telling you how you can be saved.’” – A truth expressed from the mouth of a serpent.
  
  
• 18: “She kept this up for many days. This bothered Paul, so he turned and said to the spirit, ’By the power of Jesus Christ, I command you to come out of her!’ Immediately, the spirit came out.” – Being hounded wherever they went by this loud and obnoxious creature, Paul, probably praying and struggling with what to do, finally took action and exorcised her demons.
  
  
• 22-23: “The crowd joined the attack against them. The Roman officers tore the clothes of Paul and Silas and had them beaten with rods. ²³Then Paul and Silas were thrown into jail…” – Owners of the slave girl were irate because of this loss of income caused by Paul’s exorcism. They took them to the Romans with accusations of being Jewish rabble rousers; breaking Roman laws against religious zealots and new religions.
  
  
• 25: “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing songs to God as the other prisoners listened.” – Beaten, stripped, chained, shackled, and locked in a cell with little hope – what a perfect time to lift songs of praise to God.
  
  
• 26: “Suddenly, there was a strong earthquake that shook the foundation of the jail. Then all the doors of the jail broke open, and all the prisoners were freed from their chains.” – God responds to the needs of His faithful.
  
  
• 29-30: “The jailer told someone to bring a light. Then he ran inside and, shaking with fear, fell down before Paul and Silas. ³⁰He brought them outside and said, ‘Men, what must I do to be saved?” – Fearful for his life and the punishment he might receive from the Romans, the jailer asks the basic question we all must ask.
  
  
• 31: “They said to him, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved – you and all the people in your house.’” – Salvation secured.
  

Points to Contemplate:

• What is your source for truth? Do you listen to whatever incessant voice comes your way? Do you look beyond their message to understand the source of their intent? This slave girl was seemingly expounding the same message that Paul and Silas were spreading, and yet, she bothered Paul. Was it her message that bothered him or was it the ridicule that lay beneath the message? Was Paul bothered by her incessant chatter or was he concerned that if he allowed her to continue then the Gospel would be linked with her demon-related activities? Should you be concerned by where support for your ministry comes? Does this lesson help you understand the importance of having Christ as your only source for truth?
  
  
• What do you do when things aren’t going your way? Do you sing? Paul and Silas had no reason to sing. They should have been filled with fear and agony. Instead, in the strangest of circumstances, they held a worship service singing praises to God. In the worst of times, can you sing? When you have just lost your job and the bills are piled high on your desk, can you sing? When the doctor gives you the worst possible news, can you sing? When the news of war, poverty, hate-crimes, and disasters pound at you nightly through your TV, can you sing? When you have lost everything and your future is bleak, can you sing? Does this story of Paul and Silas model for you how a life of faith is supposed to work? Can you set all your worries aside and praise God for His everlasting love for you? Can you sing?
  
  
• Who is to be saved? As you listen to conversion stories are you amazed how salvation always seems to be the main question on people’s minds? When you hear personal testimonies and about the life-changing love of Christ that has entered people’s lives, are you inspired? The story about the jailer shows that everyone faces the same question in their lives – ‘What must I do to be saved?’ In your ministry efforts are you sensitive to the needs of those around you? Are you ready to provide everyone you meet the message of hope from the Gospel so that they, too, can experience the salvation that is available through the love of Christ?
  

Promises of the Gospel:

In the Book of Acts, Luke shares a series of conversion stories that tell us different ways in which people came to know Christ. These stories, however, are not meant to simply be historical accountings of the early Christian church. Through these stories we not lonely learn how the Holy Spirit worked through Paul and Silas but they also create an understanding and expectation how He will work through us to help others experience Christ’s love. As Christians we are not designed to sit in the bleachers and cheer about the saved lives that have occurred in some far-off playing field. Everything we do should be focused on the opportunities that come our way to introduce the saving power of Christ’s love. People need salvation. They need help to break out of their jails of hopelessness and despair. And we, as Christians, are expected to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to hear the Gospel and experience the love of Christ.

FUMC Devotionals

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