Jailed!

…we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling…She…crying out…Paul, having become greatly annoyed…said to the spirit…come out of her…when her owners saw that…they seized Paul and Silas…

Acts 16:16-24

Paul, Silas and, others travelling with them, are confronted by a “fortune teller.” This girl was a slave of at least one businessman in the town and she was able to bring much gain to the businesses that used her “talents.” Most likely, this girl was under the influence of one or more demons like people were during Jesus’ earthly ministry. Paul became annoyed with this girl’s incessant cries of their being servants of God and he cast out the spirit in her. Paul’s action angered the merchants who had benefitted from the girl’s talents. Paul and Silas were dragged, publicly, to the city rulers and were falsely accused of disturbing the peace. Without any regard for a defense, Paul and Silas are stripped of their clothing and thrown into jail with the jailer ordered to put them in stocks. This is the first recorded trouble that Paul experiences in his work for the Lord. Jesus, during His earthly ministry, told His followers that, since the world has hated Him, His followers can expect to be hated as well. Believers throughout church history have experienced this prophecy come true. Our own country was founded, in part, because Christians were fleeing the persecution of the Lord’s servants caused by rulers and religious heretics who believed Christians were not true believers in Christ. Christ’s Bride, His Church, has enjoyed much freedom and growth since the USA was established. But, there is “nothing new under the sun,” as the Ecclesiastes preacher writes, and the winds of persecution are gaining strength in this country. Jesus prophesied that, in the last days, believers will be persecuted severely because Satan will reveal himself in the Antichrist of the Holy Bible. May all Christians pray that our Savior and Lord Jesus return soon to call His Bride to Himself and for Him to judge the world in righteousness. Source: S C Ball July 15, 2023