Paul and Silas Are Released
The next morning the city officials sent the police to tell the jailer, “Let those men go!”
So the jailer told Paul, “The city officials have said you and Silas are free to leave. Go in peace.”
But Paul replied, “They have publicly beaten us without a trial and put us in prison—and we are Roman citizens. So now they want us to leave secretly? Certainly not! Let them come themselves to release us!”
When the police reported this, the city officials were alarmed to learn that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. So they came to the jail and apologized to them. Then they brought them out and begged them to leave the city. When Paul and Silas left the prison, they returned to the home of Lydia. There they met with the believers and encouraged them once more. Then they left town.
Acts 16:35-40
Again I feel very much like I am in step with Paul and Silas on this matter. It has happened over and over but each time for different reasons. It really is eerily uncanny the way it is happening. With all that went on I imagine that Paul got to bed about 2.00 or 3.00 in the morning. Well that also is what happened to me last night. I was scheduled to pick Tania up from her flight back to Auckland from Melbourne after spending a week with her mother around Mother’s Day. Her flight was scheduled to come in at midnight but actually arrived at 1.42 am and after a long delay in her getting her bag and getting through Immigration and Customs we finally got home around 3.00 am. I have just woken up 15 minutes ago at 8.15 am. Reading Luke’s comment above: “The next morning the city officials sent the police to tell the jailer, “Let those men go!” – I think I would have been contrary with my accusers as well. I am going to take a time out on this Gem merely suggest to you that you read this new segment and formulate your questions. Surely you will have questions on this passage. It is really quite bizarre. Aside from whatever extra questions you may come up with we have the one that is lingering over our heads and now needs to be answered.
- Why didn’t Paul and Silas claim their Roman citizenship at the beginning and not after they were beaten? I am sure I would have to get out of a beating.
- Why was there no trial for Paul and Silas? (I have dredged up this question again because it seems even more relevant now.)
Aside from these two questions I have many others that surface when I read the above text. Take the time now to pull apart these six verses and do some more pondering.
For the sake of getting a Gem to you in a reasonably timely manner I will throw the ball back in your court and leave you some time to think over these few puzzling verses. I will return after a couple of good night’s sleep.
If you ever think about giving up, remember why you held on for so long.
Hayley Williams
If your ship doesn’t come in, swim out to it.
Jonathan Winters
No man was ever honoured for what he received. Honour is the reward for what a person GAVE.
Ian Vail
Worship is not a place you visit. You must have a home there. You can’t lead where you don’t live.
Ian Vail