The crowd in Philippi joined in the attack on Paul and Silas, and the magistrates had them stripped and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After inflicting many blows on them, they threw them into prison and instructed the jailer to guard them securely. When he received these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and secured their feet to a stake. About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God as the prisoners listened, there was suddenly such a severe earthquake that the foundations of the jail shook; all the doors flew open, and the chains of all were pulled loose. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted out in a loud voice, "Do no harm to yourself; we are all here."He asked for a light and rushed in and, trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved."
So they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house.
He took them in at that hour of the night and bathed their wounds;
then he and all his family were baptized at once.
He brought them up into his house and provided a meal
and with his household rejoiced at having come to faith in God.
Jesus said to his disciples:"Now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, 'Where are you going?'But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts. But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation: sin, because they do not believe in me; righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned."
REFLECTION
About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God as the prisoners listened, there was suddenly such a severe earthquake that the foundations of the jail shook; all the doors flew open, and the chains of all were pulled loose.
Paul and Silas learned the secret to calling the Advocate, the Holy Spirit. They know that the Holy Spirit will come if they sing to Him. He will bring joy and consolation. He, the Holy Spirit, will make the earth quake with His love.
The question is: How can they sing, when they have been "beaten with rods"? How can they sing when they are in pain? It is because they are joyful! That seems crazy! That is because they are crazy. Crazy in love with Jesus, God, and filled with the Holy Spirit!
Paul and Silas were freed from the chains. They could have run away, but they stayed. Why? They were guided by the Holy Spirit and they saved the jailer's life because they did not run away. As a result, the jailer, took them to his home. He cleaned and cared for their wounds and listened to Paul, "Believe in Jesus and you and your household will be saved." Paul and Silas baptized the jailer and his whole family.
PAPA TOP SECRET: HANDBOOK OF JOY teaches the seven secrets of the Holy Spirit. It is a spiritual guide to the benefits of living in the Holy Spirit.
Let us pray to learn from the Holy Spirit. He will guide us. In two weeks we will celebrate Pentecost, the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles. On May 29th we will begin praying the Dekaena to the Holy Spirit.
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