Paul’s Imprisonment

Acts 16:16-24

“16 One day, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave-girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. 17 While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, “These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation.” 18 She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I order 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 making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities. 20 When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, “These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews 21 and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 23 After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.”

Paul and Silas healed a slave-girl who was possessed by a spirit by which she was able to tell the future.  Once healed, she lost this ability.  The owners of this slave girl were enraged, since they could no longer make money with her future telling.

Paul healed the slave-girl not from a sense of compassion but from being “very much annoyed” with her.  Because he healed her, Paul and Silas were dragged away, severely beaten and thrown into prison. As we shall see, God used Paul and Silas in prison in a powerful way.

God used Paul’s annoyance for His purposes.  God, through His love, can accomplish His will….. despite our sins and lack of love and compassion. 

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)