[25] But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. [26] 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. [27] And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. [28] But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” [29] Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. [30] And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” [31] So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” [32] Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. [33] And he took them the same hour of the night and washed [their] stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. [34] Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household. [35] And when it was day, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, “Let those men go.” [36] So the keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace.” [37] But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, [and] have thrown [us] into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out.” [38] And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans. [39] Then they came and pleaded with them and brought [them] out, and asked [them] to depart from the city. [40] So they went out of the prison and entered [the house of] Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.1
What Peter did by apostolic authority so did Paul — this authenticates Paul’s apostolic authority (2Co 11:5, 2Co 11:12:2Co 11:11-12).2
Endnotes:
1. | Acts 16:25-40, NKJV |
2. | Ref-0038, p 2:349b |
3. | Ref-0129, 572 |
4. | Ref-0038, 646-647 |
5. | “Paul was in bondage when he wrote Philippians. But all do not agree which imprisonment he was experiencing when he wrote the book. Most believe he was in Rome at the time; some suggest he was in Caesarea; and a few argue for Ephesus. . . . His reference to the palace guard (Phil. 1:13) as well as his concern about facing possible death (vv. 20–26) argue for his writing from Rome. The date of the writing would then be a.d. 61 or 62.”4 |
Sources: