05-10-2026 - IMPRISONED, BUT NOT A PRISONER - Acts 16:16-40

# Message by Pastor Rob Inrig: Finding Freedom in Christ

## A Call to Prayer from Sharing the Word by Lou

I invite you to pray together:

O Father of mercies and God of all comfort, our only help in time of need: We humbly beseech thee to behold, visit, and relieve thy sick servants for whom our prayers are desired. Look upon them with the eyes of thy mercy (Vicky O, Nancy R, Tere G, Liz N, Stevie A, Socrates D, Sara's mom H, Margarita G, Rosy Ch, Patricia L, Lina J, Magda, Laci M, Gloria F, Miguel A H, Silvia H, Manuel D, Brianda M, Alejandro M, Natalia M, Oscar ND, Juan Carlos V). Comfort them with a sense of thy goodness; preserve them from the temptations of the enemy; and give them patience under his affliction. In thy good time, restore them to health, and enable them to lead the residue of their life in thy fear, and to thy glory; and grant that finally they may dwell with thee in life everlasting; And for those who have departed and are in eternal sleep, waiting for you to come, and with joy they will live eternal life with you.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

You can add names from family and friends who need prayer.

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As we continue our journey through the book of Acts, we find ourselves in the city of Philippi. Here, Paul and Silas encounter a slave girl, a fortune teller possessed by what the scripture calls a spirit of divination. This term, pneuma pythons, literally translates to the spirit of the python, a snake symbolizing the prophetesses at the oracle of Apollo in Delphi.

The Reality of Spiritual Warfare

In our modern, technological world, we often dismiss concepts like demon possession. We tend to think such things belong to the uneducated in distant lands, where many gods are worshipped. Yet, the spirit of the snake is still very much present among us. Its presence may not always be obvious, but its influence is undeniably dangerous.

Some years ago, I traveled to India to minister to Dalit pastors. The Dalit community is vast yet regarded as less than human. During my travels, I felt the presence of demonic pythons all around me. In our part of the world, the python's presence may be less visible, but its actions remain perilous.

The Captivity of the Slave Girl

Don't overlook the fact that this slave girl is doubly bound. She is enslaved to her masters, who see her merely as a source of income. Those benefiting from her abilities show no concern for the injustice inflicted upon her. But her true captivity lies deeper—she is possessed by a demon. It is through this dark power that she claims to divine the future.

While she may seem to possess knowledge of the future, it's essential to remember that Satan is not omniscient. He knows only what he plans to do. However, he is aware of what God has declared will come to pass. This knowledge allows him to twist the truth, mixing it with lies to deceive others. Just as he did with Jesus in the wilderness, he continues to operate in this manner today.

The Deceptive Nature of Evil

Satan's mission remains unchanged since the Garden of Eden. He seeks to distort God's commands and lead us into the experience of evil. Adam and Eve were already living in a relationship with God, experiencing goodness. Yet, with a single bite of the forbidden fruit, everything changed.

Satan's offerings may not always appear evil, but they ultimately lead to destruction. Under the guise of attraction, he deceives and lies, bringing pain to those who fall for his traps. The allure of drugs, the seduction of physical attraction, and the pursuit of achievements often mask the hidden costs beneath the surface.

This girl followed Paul and us, crying out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. (Acts 16:17-18)

The Power of God’s Authority

It may seem surprising that Paul silences the girl who affirms their message. However, God makes it clear that we should never heed Satan's voice. His words lack credibility. He uses fragments of truth to plant his lies, as evidenced by what follows.

When her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. (Acts 16:19)

What was Paul and Silas's crime? They freed a girl from demon possession. Yet, how much support would her owners receive for their accusations? There was no evidence of wrongdoing. Paul and Silas posed no threat. They had committed no theft, fraud, or deception. Their only "crime" was speaking the truth and offering freedom to someone who had been abused.

The Accusations and the Mob Mentality

To garner public support for their claims, the accusers needed to frame their narrative differently. They took Paul and Silas into the marketplace, where financial interests reign supreme. There, they stirred up fears of economic loss, suggesting that what happened to them could soon happen to others.

These men are “exceedingly troubling our city.” (Acts 16:20) With these accusations, they instilled fear and anger in the crowd. The magistrates acted impulsively, responding to the mob rather than the evidence.

And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.” (Acts 16:21)

From the outset, the accusers established a divide. They painted Paul and Silas as outsiders, different from the locals. Toxic ideas like these have been used for centuries to discredit and dehumanize others. This mindset is still prevalent today, as we see how easily suspicion and contempt can be fostered.

The Unlawful Customs

Consider the accusations made against Paul and Silas. They were accused of teaching customs that were unlawful. True, Paul preached about a God foreign to them, claiming to be the way of salvation rather than adhering to the gods the Romans previously worshipped. His teachings about Jesus were further complicated by the miraculous power that cast out demons—something their own gods could not do.

The introduction of this so-called unlawful teaching had nothing to do with customs. It was about money, power, and influence. As Timothy reminds us, “For the love of money is the root of all evil.” (1 Timothy 6:10)

The Injustice of Punishment

The magistrates, swayed by the mob, acted without regard for justice. Paul and Silas faced punishment far beyond their alleged crime. They were stripped, beaten with rods, and thrown into prison—specifically, the inner prison, reserved for the most dangerous criminals. Their feet were placed in stocks, a humiliating and painful punishment.

Most likely, few considered the legality of these actions. After all, Paul and Silas were seen as criminals, outsiders threatening the established order. The magistrates responded to the crowd's emotions rather than the facts. However, they would soon realize the gravity of their actions, as Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.

Praising God in Adversity

At midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. (Acts 16:25)

As Ray Pritchard observes, “You learn your theology at midnight.” It's during hard times that we truly understand what we believe. No one knew this better than Paul. He endured countless hardships, as he recounts in 2 Corinthians 11:23-27.

Despite their suffering and injustice, Paul and Silas chose to praise God. They were not sleeping while their jailer was. Instead, they prayed and sang hymns. Their prayers were not cries of protest but expressions of praise. They praised God for who He is—Supreme, all-powerful, and ever-present.

The Power of Praise

Praise takes us beyond our immediate circumstances. It shifts our focus from our pain to the greatness of God. Let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God... It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night. (Hebrews 13:15; Psalms 92:1-2)

In their pain, Paul and Silas understood that even in captivity, they were free. In apparent defeat, they were victorious. Their actions were not for others to hear but for their hearts to express.

Had they focused solely on their chains and injustices, they might have missed the miraculous events about to unfold. Instead, they praised God not for answers but for His character and promises. Praise is what we are called to do, even when it feels like an act of faith.

The Earthquake and the Chains

Suddenly, there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's chains were loosed. (Acts 16:26)

The timing of the earthquake was miraculous. Chains falling off? That’s harder to attribute to natural causes. But the true miracle lies in Paul’s command: “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” (Acts 16:28)

All here? How could that be? In the chaos, one would expect prisoners to flee. Yet, they remained. Perhaps they were captivated by the hope and peace they witnessed in Paul and Silas. They had every reason to complain, yet they chose to praise.

The Keeper of the Prison

The jailer, ready to take his life, understood the gravity of his situation. If any prisoner escaped, his life would be forfeit. But in a moment of desperation, he called for a light and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.

“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30)

What a powerful question! And the answer was simple yet profound: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:31)

The Power of the Gospel

This is the essence of the gospel—believing in Jesus as Lord and Savior. He is the Messiah, the Son of God. He went to the Cross to forgive our sins. When we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Belief is not just for eternity but also for our present struggles. Even when life doesn’t go as planned, Jesus remains in control. He is not just a partner in our lives; He is Lord—God’s promised One.

Conclusion: God is With Us

I may not know the difficulties you face right now. The pain, the unfairness, the feeling of being trapped. But I know the One of whom Paul and Silas spoke: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.”

This promise is for eternity and for every moment of our lives. God is with you in your deepest despair. He is there in your chains of habit. He is there when you feel rejected.

God wants you to know Him and experience His power in your life. His promise remains, even in the ugly and hard times. Pour out your unfiltered pain to Him.

Want a place of reminder? Dig into the Psalms—particularly chapters 40-49—and pray those for yourself.

The power to change your circumstances is possible, but even more, He wants to change you. Jesus is not asking to be a guest; He desires to be your Lord. This Jesus—King of kings and Lord of lords.

www.bethanybaptist.bc.ca