Acts 16, in particular, reveals a powerful narrative of faith, conversion, and God’s unwavering guidance. As we explore this chapter, we’ll discover profound lessons that resonate with our lives today.
Acts 16 showcases how God works in mysterious and often unexpected ways. We’ll witness the transformative power of the Gospel as it spreads through diverse people and circumstances. And most importantly, we’ll see how God’s sovereign plan unfolds even amidst hardship and adversity.
Praise means to commend, applaud or magnify, esteem, value, and cherish something and someone. In Christendom, praise means an expression of worship, lifting up and glorifying the Lord.
It is an expression of gratitude to God humbling ourselves and centering our attention upon the Lord with heartfelt expressions of love, adoration and thanksgiving.
We have a choice every day in this life either to be absorbed in worry, complain or to praise God, to look to him, the one who holds us in the palms of his hands, who can handle every situation of our lives without blinking his eyes.
Acts 16:25-26 “ And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God, and the prisoners heard them 26. And suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the foundation of the prison was shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s hands were loosed”
Sermon on Acts 16:16-34
This Bible story begins with the unjust arrest of Paul and Silas after they had cast a spirit of divination out of a slave girl who used the spirit (as soothsaying) to make money for her masters.
When her masters realized their source of gain was no more, they attacked Paul and Silas and brought them to the elders, the magistrate accusing Paul and Silas of violating their laws and turning against their custom.
The local authorities beat them and then threw them into prison and charged jailers to properly secure them. The jailer hearing this fastened their legs to a stock which clamped their arms and legs in an unmovable position causing them severe pains, and put them in an inner cell.
Despite this ugly situation and uncomfortable atmosphere, at midnight Paul and Silas were heard praying and singing praises to God. What an odd experience for the prisoners who often witness new prisoners crying, complaining and even cursing their accusers.
Then suddenly, there was an earthquake that shook the foundation of the prison, doors flung open and amazingly chains on Paul and Silas’ legs and hands fell off and even those of other prisoners.
In the morning when the jailer (prison warder) observed the open doors, and loosed chains he wanted to kill himself with his sword thinking all the prisoners had escaped. He requested for light to be brought to him to have accurate knowledge of the place.
Paul and Silas who did not secretly leave the prison, they commanded the jailer not to kill himself. He shouted to him that they were all intact.
The jailer being scared and amazed at such a situation requested for Paul and Silas to come out, he knelt down before them and asked Paul “What must I do to be saved” because he had realized the supernatural hand in what had happened.
Paul preached to him Jesus Christ, he believed, got baptized and his household. He gave Paul and Silas food to eat.
Illustration Of Acts 16:16 -34
This story illustrates a woman who was a slave to human masters and a demonic spirit. Through this demonic power, she was able to reveal things (fortune telling) to people who would subsequently pay for the services making her masters enjoy good fortune.
When she encounters the presence of a higher power indwelling in Paul and Silas, the young woman recognises the power in them and following them around the town shouts ‘These men are the servants of the Most High God, which shew unto us the way of salvation”
Though she was telling the truth about Paul and Silas providing free advertisement of Paul’s ministry darkness can never be light, and the spirit was trying to confuse the people of its deceptive nature.
Paul being conscious of this fact commanded the evil spirit to depart from that girl’s body in Jesus’ name and the demon departed that very hour setting the woman free.
This similar situation is recorded in Luke 4:31-35 where Jesus commanded the evil spirit in the life of a man who kept shouting “ Let us alone, what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy us? I know who thou art, the Holy one of God” and also in Matthew 8:28-30 about two Gergesenes demoniacs and in Mark 7:24-30 about a Synophenicean woman whose daughter was possessed of a familiar spirit. Jesus commanded the spirit to come out they obeyed him.
This means that Jesus has power over all the spirits in the whole world and that deliverance is for everyone be it men, women, Jews, or Gentiles.
The masters of the slave girl instead of celebrating her freedom from demonic possession out of greed seize Paul and Silas and bring them into the market square before the authorities frame them “ These men are disturbing our city, they are Jews and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe “
The crowd that witnessed the miracle instead of showing faith in them or desiring to know more about the name of Jesus joined and attacked the Apostles and the magistrate had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods and jailed.
The girl’s masters have enslaved her to enrich themselves. That is, she was their money machine. The actions of Judas Iscariot in Acts 1:16-21, and Simon Margus in Acts 8:18-20 picture greed in people’s lives. Many similar slavery situations exist throughout the world today.
Children and young adults both male and female are being used as sex toys for financial purposes.
The magistrates and government officials being eager to resist any form of violence in their domain and also ignorant of the potency of the teaching of Jesus Christ stripped, beaten and threw them into their local prison with a strict warning to the jailer to have their legs held with stock and they kept in the inner cell.
They did not bother themselves to follow due process simply because the accusers of Paul and Silas declared them Jews but bowed to the demands for immediate punishment.
This pictures what Jesus faced when the crowd demanded his crucifixion and the authorities bowed to their demand Luke 23. This they thought would frighten the apostles and weaken other believers from preaching the gospel but the word of God cannot be caged by human efforts.
The writer believed to be Luke, penned down this event unfolded itself as Paul and Silas were going to prayer. As Christians, our perfect example Jesus Christ demonstrated this lifestyle of always praying during his earthly journey.
Prayer is an outstanding weapon for our victory. It is communicating with God and God communicating with us. It is creating a bond with God. The Apostles adopted this lifestyle as captured on various occasions in the bible. ( Acts 16:13, Acts 2:24, Acts1:14, Acts3:1, Acts6:4)
The Apostles at midnight not considering the discomfort and ugly situation they were in began to pray and sing praises to God. Why at midnight? This signifies the darkest hour of the night, a time of deep distress, a time 0f absolute silence and hopelessness.
The disciples see themselves as being privileged or chosen to carry out this great task even in the face of injustice rather than choose to pray and sing praises to God, the key they knew very well will always result in victory.
Praise is an expression of faith and a declaration of victory. It declares that we believe God is with us and is in control of the outcome of all our circumstances (Romans 8:28).
It is a sacrifice, something that we offer to God sacrificially not just because we feel like it but because we believe in him and which to please him. (Hebrew 13:15) ‘By him, therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name”
Suddenly, a great earthquake erupted, shaking the whole foundation of the prison, opening doors and losing chains from the prisoner’s legs and hands.
What a sensible earthquake! instead of destruction, it chose only to deliver the prisoners No wonder the bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 1:27 that “ but God had chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; an, and chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty’ Whatever the prison foundations were for; slavery, imprisonment, anguish, discomfort, they were shaken off.
It shows God manifesting Himself visibly shaking this world to their foundation.
Isaiah 49:24 “ Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?. But thus said the Lord, even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered; for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children”.
The jailer here was a symbol of world power and fame being the leader of the prison of the most powerful kingdom of his time ( the Roman Empire) while Paul and Silas were seen as commoners.
Paul and Silas had the chance to escape but they chose not to, since they were following the leadings of the Holy Spirit and not their senses.
They now saved the jailer from suicide de attempts and most importantly from internal condemnation. Who on seeing the open doors lose chains caused by the earthquake asked Paul, ‘What must I do to be saved”
The jailer believed him and his household. The church is moving on. In Acts 16:10-15 we have the record of the conversion of Lydia a wealthy woman whose merchandise was purple cloths. God’s salvation is not limited to race, gender, societal status or influence.
The jailer and his household believed, got baptized and joined the household of God. As members of one family now, he washed Paul and Silas wounds, brought food and they ate together, This was also observed during Lydia’s conversion and baptism, she took the apostles to her house presented food to them and they ate together.
Lessons From Acts 16:16-34. Praise! One key to our victory.
1. Rooted In The Knowledge Of God
Anyone who knows how to praise God regardless of the circumstances is one who is rely in God. Irrespective of the ugly situation one faces you can’t be hurt when you believe God.
Jesus has already won the battle and has obtained victory for you in his death, burial and resurrection and he knows how to see you through any test or trial. 2 Corinthians 2:14 says
“Thanks be unto God, which always caused us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place” Oh yes we are victorious!
Paul and Silas though persecuted did not stay back to murmur or complain but boldly and confidently preached Christ to the jailer who believed their message.
2. The Power Of Praise
Paul and Silas knew the secret of how to lift their heart above their challenges and enter into God’s presence and power. Through praises, their heart was raised into the joyous presence and peace of God and thus a channel for his power to operate in their circumstances.
The Bible says God inhabits in the praises of his people Psalm 22:3. Praise always sets the atmosphere for miracles.
Praise to God is a vehicle of faith which takes us into God’s presence and power. Praise is what brings things from the supernatural to the natural. Praise is a lifestyle, no wonder one of the patriarchs of faith, King David always won his battle. Psalms 103:1-7.
3. A Life Of Prayer
Prayer alongside praise gives a significant result. The Apostles were going to their place of prayer before their encounter with spirit-possessed slave girl. We are to always walk in the light of God’s word no matter the circumstances. A prayer less Christian is a powerless Christian.
The Apostles commanded the demon to go out of the girl’s body in Jesus name and the demon had no option than to leave the body.
The power and the authority of Jesus supersede every other name. John 16:23 says “ And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it to you.
No one can work his way to salvation, all that is needed is belief in the Lord Jesus Christ who is the way, truth and life.
4. Praise Bring Revival
Where things are bad and you keep praising God, the glory that comes on you will automatically turn things around. Dare to be a glory carrier and God will harvest souls through you. Through praise, Paul and Silas won the jailer and his household to God even the prisoners. that with the power of God.
The apostles were strengthened through praises throughout their stay in the prison. Praise will build you up spiritually and keep you from crumbling. Nehemiah 8:10 says “ The joy of the lord is your strength.”
5. Salvation Is Free
The jailer asked Paul and Silas “What must I do to be saved” and they responded, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shall be saved, and thy household”.
Jesus has paid for the world’s salvation through his death, burial and resurrection, all one needs is to believe what Jesus did and the case is settled. No more sacrifice. When the jailer recognized this, his household was saved.
Conclusion
As Christians, we don’t need our power, money or effort to make things happen, we are called to release the power of praise and thanksgiving every day of our lives to defeat the devil and unlock victory. You don’t need to exert your energy, the strength of God pulls things out for you.
Philippians 4:6 “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made know unto God” When that happens, you achieve your best successes without struggle, the glory of God comes down and makes human abilities to be replaced with divine enablement.
Why not sing praise to God? Israelites sang praises to God as they marched around the wall of Jericho and it collapsed for their victory.
Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises to God and the prison doors flung open and chains were broken. Praise! One key to our victory.
Try it and you will not regret it. Praise is not something done at convenience. God is always worthy of your praise. Praise can be carried out in songs, dance, prayer, Psalms, proclamations, instrumentals, and studying the bible.
