Paul and Silas in Prison
Paul and Silas are beaten and imprisoned in Philippi. At midnight they sing hymns, an earthquake opens the doors, and the jailer and his family believe.
Acts 16:16-34
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The Story
Paul and Silas were seized and dragged into the marketplace to face the authorities. The crowd joined in the attack against them, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. He put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone's chains came loose.
The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.
But Paul shouted, 'Don't harm yourself! We are all here!'
The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?'
They replied, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.'
Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.
Singing in Jail
Kids Version
Paul and Silas were in the city of Philippi, telling people about Jesus. Some people got angry and had them arrested!
Soldiers beat Paul and Silas with sticks. WHACK! WHACK! It hurt SO much! Then they threw them into the deepest, darkest part of the prison and locked their feet in wooden blocks.
Things looked pretty bad. But Paul and Silas did something surprising.
At midnight—when everything was dark and they were in pain—they started SINGING! They sang songs to God! They PRAYED!
The other prisoners listened. What kind of people sing in JAIL?!
Suddenly—RUMBLE! SHAKE! An EARTHQUAKE! The whole prison shook! All the doors flew open! Everyone's chains fell off!
The jailer woke up terrified. If prisoners escaped, HE would be killed! He grabbed his sword.
But Paul yelled, 'STOP! Don't hurt yourself! We're ALL still here!'
The jailer couldn't believe it. The doors were open, but no one ran away?!
He ran to Paul and Silas and fell on his knees. 'What must I do to be SAVED?'
Paul said, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you AND your family!'
That very night, the jailer washed their wounds. Paul and Silas told his whole family about Jesus. They ALL believed and were baptized!
The jailer was SO happy! He made them dinner and celebrated.
Paul and Silas showed that nothing—not beatings, not jail, not chains—can stop God's love. And they kept praising God no matter what!
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Scripture — Acts 16:16-34 (KJV)
16And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: of divination: or, of Python
17The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
18And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
19And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, marketplace: or, court
20And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
21And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
22And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
23And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
24Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
27And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
28But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
29Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
30And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes ; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
34And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
Memory Verse
“And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: of divination: or, of Python”
— Acts 16:16 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “Paul and Silas in Prison” in the Bible?
Paul and Silas are beaten and imprisoned in Philippi. At midnight they sing hymns, an earthquake opens the doors, and the jailer and his family believe. This story is found in Acts 16:16-34.
Where is “Paul and Silas in Prison” found in the Bible?
“Paul and Silas in Prison” is found in Acts 16:16-34, in the book of Acts.
What can children learn from “Paul and Silas in Prison”?
This story teaches children about Joy in suffering, God's power, Salvation, Witness. Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown in jail for telling people about Jesus. But at midnight, they SANG songs to God! Then an earthquake shook the prison, and the jailer became a believer!