TRANSFORMATION-Singing While Shackled

If we want to glean encouragement from a transformative moment, Acts 16: 23-37 is the place to go. Paul and Silas are highlighted as examples of hope during deprivation for counting on Jesus in terrible circumstances. The Roman prisons were notorious for their dark, windowless cells, their heavy chains, and scant food if any. Dungeons are usually underground. 

On this occasion, Paul and Silas suffered with beatings after prison guards stripped them. The guards threw them into the innermost cells and bound their feet in chains. Try to imagine the surprises among prisoners and guards to hear them singing while shackled and sitting in the middle of a darkness beyond dark. Frankly, I cannot imagine doing the same.

I’m guessing Paul and Silas sang the Psalms, until suddenly an earthquake hit throwing every prison bar open. The prisoners’ chains literally fell off, with no keys, and no guards unlocking them. The shock and amazement fell on the prisoners and the jailer awakening from his sleep.
When the jailer realized that all the prison bars opened, he unsheathed his sword to commit suicide since he anticipated that all the prisoners had escaped. Why would this guard attempt suicide? The Romans likely killed their jailers when prisoners escaped. 

However, Paul called out, “We’re all here. Don’t kill yourself.” The jailer asked a guard to bring a torch to verify what Paul shouted. When he saw the truth, he fell down in front of Paul and Silas and asked, “What must I do to be saved?”

The scripture passage does not tell us about all the previous interactions between Paul, Silas and their jailer. My guess; he was shocked first that they took their punishment in a brave, non-abusive way and then later heard them singing as he fell asleep. I’m sure that the jailer never met any prisoners like this duo! 

The story goes on to relate that Paul and Silas shared the good news of Jesus and how to enter a relationship with Him. His acceptance of Jesus is obvious when we read that the jailer washed Paul and Silas’ wounds. I wish the jailer’s name was known but we read that he took them to his family home, fed them, and the jailer’s family was baptized. Scripture relates that he and his family experienced joy. Later, the jailer was told by the authorities that they were to be released. 

The jailer experienced true transformation. Paul and Silas lived out their faith in a setting that was beyond awful. Their witness was transformative. The earthquake’s occurrence is interesting too. The iron doors of the cells sprang open, prisoners were released from chains, but the prison walls didn’t crumble around them. God enacted very specific results during the quake. The impact on the jailer led to his salvation and the salvation of his family.

While none of us might face earthquakes or imprisonment, are we living our lives as believers who bring hope to others even during problems that beset us? Recall some of your most precious moments of transformation. I pray that I-and every believer- will draw added ability with Jesus’ help to stand strong in adversity. Transformation is available to all of us with the help of His precious Holy Spirit.

“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.”  – Khalil Gibran