Languages

1) Why were Paul and Silas praying and singing?
The circumstances for their worship is unimaginable. There exists no earthly reason why these two should be awake at midnight, and certainly not found praying or singing. Paul and Silas were in prison for preaching Christ as Savior, more so, the pair had been beaten by professionals in public punishment. Bruised, bleeding, quite likely suffering a broken rib (or few), twisted appendages, loose teeth, swollen eyes, or a concussion, this was the time for a doctor’s care, washed wounds, medicine, nourishment, and rest. Yet these men received none of it. Shackled in a small, dank cell, where the world would surely expect groaning and complaint, Paul and Silas were continuing the work they had been commissioned with, the very work that had landed them in prison in the first place: worship. Their obedience to travel to a new city to share the gospel was an act of worship, obedience to boldly preach was worship, and though their scenario was now different, it did not determine their obedience to continue in worship. This obedience to the Lord was not a heavy-burdened duty to perform. They were not singing because they “had to”. No! They prayed and sang out of love for the One who had freed them for eternity; earthly chains and sufferings held no long-term threat to them. (Psalm 118:6, Matthew 10:28)

2) Why was the jailer so quick to fall on his knees before his prisoners?
One of the roles of the Holy Spirit is to convict of sin for the purpose of bringing a lost soul into eternal salvation. Without this conviction from the Spirit, no one would repent from their sin, we are too in love with ourselves as ruler over our lives. (John 16:8) Anyone who turns to Jesus for salvation does so because the Holy Spirit has convicted them of their sin, shown them the perfect righteousness of God, and convicted them of a coming judgement when only those names found written in the Book of Life will enter eternal life. (Revelation 3:5, Revelation 17:8) For this jailer to repent, the Holy Spirit was convicting his heart of his own sin. As Paul writes in Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” The Spirit uses His “sword”, which is the Word of God, the Bible, in His conviction as by its penetrating cut, the thoughts and intentions of the heart are discerned. (Hebrews 4:12) Paul and Silas were not praying with random words or singing meaningless ditties to pass the time, they were praying Scripture and singing God’s living Word. (Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16, Psalm 42:8) They were preaching even in their worship. The Holy Spirit had been preparing this jailer’s heart, and when he was confronted with the truth of Scripture paired with the faith of the beaten disciples, he knew he needed this same salvation.

3) What does this story reveal about God’s authority versus human authority?
Scripture teaches over and over that never once are we forsaken, alone, or unloved by the God who died to save us from ourselves. (Romans 8:37-39, Romans 5:6-8) His authority rules and reigns over all things (Matthew 28:18), even when we don’t perceive it. Nothing is beyond His control and ability to redeem. The Lord was with Paul and Silas as they preached, giving them words and boldness. He was with them as every blow was struck to their bodies. He was with them in that prison cell, growing their faith and dependence on Him, even as their human bodies ached with wounds. His Spirit stirred inside them, causing them to hunger for deeper connection with Him as His constant invitation to pray to Him was open. Paul and Silas responded to the Spirit working inside them, just as had been their growing habit since He took up residence within them at their conversions to faith, and they prayed and sang for all to hear in the middle of the night. Jail cell and prison bond and beating would not stop them from sharing Hope because God’s authority trumps all of man’s authority and perspective.