Acts 16:35-40

                                                                 Acts 16:35-40

But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.”But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.”The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.

 

There are times when as Christians we will be mistreated and discriminated against.  We have been warned by both Jesus and Paul to expect these things.  However, that does not mean that we have to simply “take it” like a doormat and act like nothing has happened when our rights have been violated.  We must not be surprised or discouraged by persecution or allow defending our rights to become a distraction.  However, legal defenses can prevent future persecution.

 

FREEDOM RESTORED: It is hard to know what happened over night that made the magistrates decide to set Paul and Silas free.  Perhaps as they investigated the charges against them, they realized that they had been falsely arrested.  This was an embarrassment to the officials, so they sent the police to set them free and ask them to leave the city.  There is never a guarantee that the truth will come out on this earth, but we can always be assured that God will always make things right in eternity.  We may be misunderstood or mistreated, but God knows and will bring about eternal justice.

 

VINDICATION REQUIRED: The officials who ordered Paul and Silas to be beaten and thrown in prison had not done their due diligence.  They wanted Paul and Silas to simply go away, but Paul was not going to let it go that easily.  He had rights as a Roman citizen that were violated, and he wanted an opportunity to vindicate himself.  He did not want his brothers and sisters in Christ to face a similar fate.  This would also likely be spread to other places and make persecution less likely in the future.  It is not wrong to stand up for our rights and expect our authorities to obey the law.  However, our desire for justice must not become a distraction from God’s mission.

 

BROTHERS REFRESHED: There is something about two guys who are beaten and spend the night in prison, but when they are released, they are the ones refreshing others.  Despite being wrongfully treated by the government officials, Paul and Silas do not stop doing what they are called to do.  They understand that suffering is part of what they have been called to endure.  When we are hurt, it is easy for us to use that as an excuse to mope, become angry, or to stop doing ministry to others.  God calls to be a blessing to others because He is our blessing.  If we will make being a blessing a priority over seeking to be blessed, life will go better for us.

 

APPLICATION: Trust God even when the circumstances we face are difficult and seem unjust.  We can use every legal advantage to protect ourselves and others.  Understand that injustice is inevitable in this world. Don’t lose site of the mission to fight for social justice.  Our priority is to encourage believers and take the Gospel to unbelivers.