NL 442: Paul and Silas Go to Prison

Intro (00:00:00)Context is Key (00:0Overall Context‘Ad’ Break (00:0Text Me (00:0Section 1: Acts 16:16-18 “You Are Super Annoying, Be healed”Section 2: Acts 16:19-24 “You Broke Her” (00:Section 3: Acts 16:25-34 “Prison Not-Break” (00:Addendum 1: Acts 16:35-40 “Habeas Corpus” (00:Foreshadowing: Next Week on Tales of Faith (Acts 17, Paul in Athens)That’ll Preach (00:Sermon ThoughtsTeaching ChildrenIntro (00:00:00)A: Greetings, and welcome back to Tales of Faith, a podcast on the Narrative Lectionary. I am n.L: And I am n. This is episode 442 for Fourth Sunday of Easter on April 26, 2026, though we are recording on April 21, so if something major has happened between when we record and when you listen, then we won’t be able to comment on it.A: Today we are talking about Acts 6:16-34, Paul and Silas in Prison, and will be using the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition. So let’s get started with the Context:Context is Key (00:0Overall Context* Early church serving as witnesses to Jesus, and making disciples.* Saul, now known more by his Greek name, Paul, has been setting up churches in predominantly Gentile (non-Jewish) areas along side of Barnabus (Son of Encouragement).* Council of Jerusalem has ‘decided’ that Gentiles will not be expected to conform to Torah observance.* after the council, Paul and Barnabus split because Barnabus wanted to bring John Mark, but Paul held a grudge over John Mark abandoning them in Pamphilia.* Barnabus and John Mark go to Cyprus* Paul hooks up with Silas, and they head back to Lystra and Darbe, where they also take on Timothy.* Paul receives a vision of a man from Massadonia (not to be confused with the Man of La Mancha) urging him to bring the gospel there.* They are now in Philippi staying at the ‘house of Lydia’ which may or may not be a brothel.‘Ad’ Break (00:0L: Are you being dragged before the local magistrates for disturbing the peace, when all you did was cast out a demon? Are you charged with proclaiming false gods and foreign customs? Have you been beaten and arrested even though you are a Roman citizen? Do you need someone to fight for you?A: Call Lucretius Sergius Veridicus and Herminius Blandus Iustitia, right now! Our team of lawyers and orators are the finest in all of southern Macedonia, and we will fight for you!L: (Personal testimony) My favorite goat was gored by a wild oxen, but Veridicus got me 10 dinarius and a new goat, plus I got to light the pyre for the oxen!A: Yes, call Veridicus and Iustitia at VII VII VII - IX V III - IX I IX I. Call today!Text Me (00:0Section 1: Acts 16:16-18 “You Are Super Annoying, Be healed”L16 One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a female slave who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. 17 While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, “These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you[d] the way of salvation.” 18 She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.d. 16.17 Other ancient authorities read to usSection 2: Acts 16:19-24 “You Broke Her” (00:A19 But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities. 20 When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, “These men, these Jews, are disturbing our city 21 and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us, being Romans, to adopt or observe.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 23 After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.Section 3: Acts 16:25-34 “Prison Not-Break” (00:L25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was an earthquake so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 The jailer[e] called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them outside and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 They spoke the word of the Lord[f] to him and to all who were in his house. 33 At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. 34 He brought them up into the house and set food before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.e. 16.17 Other ancient authorities read to usf. 16.29 Gk HeAddendum 1: Acts 16:35-40 “Habeas Corpus” (00:A35 When morning came, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” 36 And the jailer reported the message to Paul, saying, “The magistrates sent word to let you go; therefore come out now and go in peace.” 37 But Paul replied, “They have beaten us in public, uncondemned, men who are Romans, and have thrown us into prison, and now are they going to discharge us in secret? Certainly not! Let them come and take us out themselves.” 38 The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans, 39 so they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. 40 After leaving the prison they went to Lydia’s home, and when they had seen and encouraged the brothers and sisters there, they departed.Foreshadowing: Next Week on Tales of Faith (Acts 17, Paul in Athens)That’ll Preach (00:Sermon ThoughtsTeaching Children Get full access to Tales of Faith at talesoffaith.substack.com/subscribe