Singing in Jail

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!