“NOT A JAIL BREAKOUT”

Season: Book of Acts
Episode 22: “Not a Jail Breakout”
Today’s Bible Bite: Acts 16:16-40

Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tK5hkv88-I8 (New Vintage Kids)

“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30, NLT)

While in Philippi, Paul and Silas spent many days telling people about Jesus. But to Paul’s increasing annoyance, a girl kept following them and telling everyone to listen to them. You wouldn’t think this should be an issue, but it was…she had an evil spirit in her that was causing a major distraction. Paul told the spirit to go away and it did. Problem was that the girl was a slave and had made lots of money for her owners when controlled by the evil spirit. Now they wouldn’t be able to make money off of her telling people their fortunes and they took Paul and Silas to the city officials to accuse them of being a bad influence.

The city officials didn’t know what to think, so they had Paul & Silas beaten and thrown in jail until the next day when they would decide what to do with them (in those days, people were often assumed guilty if someone made a complaint, even without a trial). But during the night something amazing happened. Paul and Silas worshiped God…right in the prison. As they sang songs, the other prisoners listened. All of a sudden, an earthquake broke open all the prison doors and released every prisoner from their chains. The keeper of the jail was certain that the prisoners had escaped and he was going to be in big trouble. Paul called out for him not to worry...they were all still there!

The jailer was so amazed that he decided he needed to believe the same things about God that Paul and Silas did. He and his whole family were baptized that night. Then he took care of Paul and Silas—he tended to their wounds and gave them a meal. The next morning, Paul and Silas were freed. They may have been beaten and spent time in prison, but I don’t think they minded. They had been able to help the jailer and his family come to know the truth about Jesus.

Think about it...
• As Paul and Silas walked around Philippi telling people about God, a girl followed them telling everyone to listen to them. Why was this a problem?
• When Paul told the evil spirit to leave, it left. This would have made the slave girl happy, but why weren’t her owners?
• Paul and Silas were beaten and arrested because of the complaints against them. Instead of complaining, what did they do while in prison?
• A great earthquake shook the prison to its foundations and everyone could have escaped, but they didn’t. What happened instead?
• Paul and Silas had been mistreated, but they were happy. What did they have to thank God for?
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Prayer: Thank you, God, that even when people may not understand our attempts to help them, you are always on our side to help us. Help us to always show you thanks, just like Paul and Silas. Remind us that even in times of trouble, you can still do amazing things to rescue us.