Luke the beloved physician wrote how Paul and Silas were beaten and put in prison for delivering a “damsel” from an “evil spirit” that caused her to divine for her “masters” who were now without their profits. “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do yourself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, and your house. And they spoke unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. And when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, Let those men go. And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace”, and in chapter sixteen and verse thirty-seven of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul said, “They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out secretly?” where we read:
But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out secretly? no verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.
The verse begins, “But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison;” Luke began with the words, “but Paul said unto them” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover Paul whose name means small or little”, “they have beaten us openly” or “the magistrates have stricken, smitten and trashed us, Paul and Silas, with rods” “uncondemned” which means “without trial or judgment”, “being Romans” or “existing as residents of Rome or Roman citizens”, “and have cast us into prison” which means “and threw, sent and thrust us, Paul and Silas, into the place where captives are held”. Luke shared how “Paul” responded to the “jailer” by referring to how the “magistrates” had him and Silas “beaten with rods” and cast them into “prison” with no trial or judge even though they had “Roman” citizenship.
The verse continues, “and now do they thrust us out secretly? no verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.” Luke added the words, “and now do they thrust us out” or “and at this present time are the magistrates casting, throwing and putting us, Paul and Silas, out of the prison” “secretly” which means “privately”? “no verily” or “for even so, indeed, truly, surely and of no doubt”; “But let them come themselves” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover allow and permit the magistrates to arise and appear their own selves” “and fetch us out” or “and lead and bring us, Paul and Silas, out of the prison”. Luke shared how “Paul” submitted to the “jailer” the idea that the “magistrates” had publicly beat them and put them into the prison, and now they were attempting to release them in “secret”, therefore “Paul” told the “jailer” to tell the “magistrates” to come and release them.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” the apostle took issue with the “leaders and commanders” beating them with rods, throwing them into “prison” and condemning them without a “trial or judge” even though they were “Roman citizens”. This was not to be, and the “magistrates” violated “Roman law” in doing so. The “magistrates” attempted to set “Paul and Silas” free in “secret”, and yet, they had “condemned” them publicly. God knew these things would happen to “Paul and Silas”, and he allowed them to occur. God intended to share His “good news” through His Son Jesus to everyone who believes and trusts in Him. Those who carefully study what happened to “Paul and Silas” should be encouraged to yield to Jesus and allow Him to direct their lives regardless of where He may lead.
Next time Luke shares how, “the sergeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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