Paul's Missionary Journey
Acts 16:23 “And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:”
During Paul’s second missionary journey (v. 11), the group made their way to the Roman colony of Philippi (v. 12). On the sabbath, they found a group of women who had come for prayer (v. 13). One of them was named Lydia (v. 14), who was later “baptized, and her household” (v. 15). Some time later, they met “a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination” (v. 16). She was being used by her masters to earn money. But Paul being grieved commanded the evil spirit “in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her” (v. 18).
When her wicked masters saw that their source of income was destroyed, they brought Paul and Silas to the magistrate and incited a crowd against them (v. 19). They lied and schemed (Ps 21:11), just to take vengeance on those they felt had done them wrong (Prov 6:19). All that Paul and Silas did was to set the poor tortured soul free from bondage and gave glory to God (1 Cor 10:31). Yet, they were beaten and thrown “into prison” like common criminals. Folks, the devil and his minions will always oppose the truth (Jn 8:44), and the faithful servants of God (Ps 36:4). Life is not always easy (Jn 16:33). It seems that God’s children bear more than their share of trials and pain (Ps 73:15). There will be a lot of rough roads, hard times, pain, and suffering, along the way (Ecc 2:23). Loved ones will pass away, illnesses come, children rebel, marriages may fail, and sometimes life hurts! At times, it may be worse than we could imagine, even when we are doing our best to serve the Lord. There will be some places of misery (Job 14:1), along the path of life (Prov 5:6). If you are there right now, God promises to deliver you if you cry out to Him (Ps 34:17). He is our only hope in times of trouble! God bless you!
-Pastor Melito Barrera
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