Prison Songs at Midnight
Paul and Silas are beaten and imprisoned in Philippi, but their midnight worship leads to miraculous deliverance and the conversion of the jailer and his household.
Acts 16:16-40
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The Story
In Philippi, Paul and Silas encountered a slave girl with a spirit of divination who followed them, crying out, 'These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation!' Though her words were true, the spirit behind them was not. After many days, Paul turned and commanded the spirit, 'I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.' It came out that very hour.
But when her owners saw their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the marketplace before the rulers. 'These men are Jews and they are disturbing our city,' they accused. The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped and beaten with rods. After many blows, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely. He put them in the inner prison and fastened their feet in stocks.
About midnight—backs bleeding, feet in stocks, in the innermost cell—Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God. The other prisoners were listening. Suddenly there was a great earthquake that shook the foundations of the prison. All the doors flew open and everyone's bonds were unfastened.
When the jailer woke and saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword to kill himself, assuming the prisoners had fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, 'Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!' The jailer called for lights and rushed in, trembling with fear. He fell down before Paul and Silas and brought them out, asking, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?'
They said, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.'
That very night, at that very hour, the jailer washed their wounds and was baptized with all his family. He brought them into his house, set food before them, and rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
What began with beatings ended with baptism. What started with imprisonment concluded with joy. Paul and Silas's midnight worship had turned a prison into a place of salvation.
Singing in Jail
Kids Version
Paul and Silas were in a city telling people about Jesus. They helped a girl by making an evil spirit leave her. But the people who owned the girl got mad because they were using her to make money!
The angry people grabbed Paul and Silas and beat them with sticks. Ouch! Then they threw them in jail. The jailer put them deep inside the prison and locked their feet in heavy chains so they couldn't move.
It was midnight. Paul and Silas's backs hurt from being beaten. Their feet were locked up. They were in the darkest part of the jail. What did they do? Did they cry? Did they complain?
No! They SANG! They prayed and sang songs to God! The other prisoners listened. Even in jail, Paul and Silas praised God!
Suddenly—RUMBLE, RUMBLE, SHAKE, SHAKE! A big earthquake shook the whole jail! All the doors flew open! Everyone's chains fell off! Paul and Silas were free!
The jailer woke up and saw all the doors open. He thought all the prisoners ran away. He was so scared! But Paul shouted, 'Don't worry! We're all still here!'
The jailer ran to Paul and Silas. He was shaking. 'What do I need to do to be saved?' he asked.
'Believe in Jesus!' Paul said.
Right there, that night, the jailer and his whole family believed in Jesus and got baptized! The jailer washed Paul and Silas's wounds and made them dinner. Everyone was so happy!
Paul and Silas showed us that even when bad things happen, we can still worship God. And God can use our hardest times to help others find Jesus!
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Scripture — Acts 16:16-40 (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.
35And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.
36And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.
37But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans , and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.
38And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
39And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.
40And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.
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 “Prison Songs at Midnight” in the Bible?
Paul and Silas are beaten and imprisoned in Philippi, but their midnight worship leads to miraculous deliverance and the conversion of the jailer and his household. This story is found in Acts 16:16-40.
Where is “Prison Songs at Midnight” found in the Bible?
“Prison Songs at Midnight” is found in Acts 16:16-40, in the book of Acts.
What can children learn from “Prison Songs at Midnight”?
This story teaches children about Worship through suffering, God's power, Salvation, Joy in trials, Miracles. Paul and Silas were put in jail for telling people about Jesus, but they sang songs to God anyway. Then God sent an earthquake that opened all the doors!