Acts 16:19-24 – When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
“When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities.” These “owners” were contemptible. The fact that having slaves was permissible and was accepted in those days, does not make it any less reprehensible. We may also deduce that these men were not only taking advantage of a girl possessed by a demon, but they were doing so because they could not make a living on their own as “their hope of making money was gone” makes clear. They were contemptible persons who made money off the misfortune of another.
They seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace where civil matters were brought to recognized authorities. What was the clear reason? Obviously it was because when the demon was cast out of the girl they could no longer make money off of her. However, what would they say was the reason they had seized Paul and Silas?
“They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.” How pathetic a charge it would have been if the men had honestly aired their grievance that they were enraged because their money making device (the demon possession of the girl) had been healed. So they lied. The most effective lies usually have an element of truth, just as the devil twisted truth to Eve (Genesis 3:1-5) and also as He tried to deceive Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11). Yes, these men were Jews. Some reason that Paul and Silas were the ones singled out from the missionaries because they were the only full Jews among them. This was important because at this time the Jews were not trusted in Rome and had been expelled from the city by Claudius about AD 49-50. The Jews were not then endeared by the Romans. So these men may have been contributing to the abuse of the girl, maybe they were unemployable or unable to find another occupation, but they were not unintelligent. They knew how to weave a lie that would work. Proclaiming that Paul and Silas were Jews put them in an immediate bad situation. How hypocritical because they likewise were Jews.
How hypocritical for these men to say that Paul and Silas were causing an uproar. Causing an uproar was precisely their intent in accusing Paul and Silas. They knew the political climate and they knew how to ignite a fire.
As the truth was twisted against Jesus (Matthew 26:60-61) so these accusers twisted the truth against Paul and Silas. The missionaries were not causing a riot as was claimed, but were causing a peaceful commotion as the Gospel was preached, and they intended to. When they preached the Word then previously held beliefs were shattered and that would cause the Word to spread more and for souls to be saved. Jesus even said that He would be the cause of division (Luke 12:51-53). When people hear the Word of God they either have hearts ready to respond or they do not. If not, they become divided with the ones who are ready to call Jesus Savior and Lord. Yet, the truth was that the missionaries were not causing a dangerous riot, it was the accusers who were riling up a dangerous mob.
When they claim that Paul and Silas were advocating customs that were unlawful for Romans to accept, that was true. But then again, these accusers were also Jews and so also claimed a religion that was against Roman beliefs. Roman religion was polytheistic. True and loyal Jews worship only God. Christians worship the same one God who is more clearly revealed in the New Testament as the Triune God. So, though the missionaries were not advocating any violence, they were teaching what the Romans would oppose. This is no different in our day when Christians hold to the eternal truths of the Bible that run against what the governments of the world now confess as their beliefs. The exclusivity that only the Gospel of Jesus will get one to heaven makes people mad. Not erasing scriptures to bend to the sin of modern culture is considered wrong by all world governments and that angers the people who have placed government on a higher pedestal then one True God.
“The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.” So the accusers successfully riled up the crowd with their false charges. Yet, it is doubtful that the false charges were the only reason the crowd was worked into a frenzy. It was the same as it is today. Those who are either rich, physically attractive, charismatic, eloquent or passionate, or all of the preceding, deceive masses of people. People who have these qualities tell lies that are not supported by truth. People believe them. It happened then and it happens now.
The magistrates ordered that Paul and Silas be beaten. They likely ordered this to appease the crowd, but we may suppose that they also may have been influenced by the passionate appeal to punish, or kill, Paul and Silas. Now beating, flogging and imprisoning Paul and Silas should not have been done even by their order of law. These authorities had the power to hold them and bring them before the proconsul, but they should not have inflicted the punishment that they did. Romans were proud of their brand of justice, in fact justice was one of their prized virtues. Yet justice was denied to Paul and Silas as they were: 1) not given the opportunity to dispute the charges. 2) No witnesses were called to substantiate or disprove the charges. 3) No cross-examination of the accusers was performed. 4) They never allowed Paul and Silas to defend themselves and so the authorities did not know they were Roman citizens and had all the rights of being Roman citizens.
The jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. Why? Perhaps because they feared a jailbreak? Or maybe because supernatural miracles had been being performed through these two and it was feared that they may supernaturally be freed?
“When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.” The jailer knew that his life depended on explicitly guarding these prisoners from being stolen from his guard or from them escaping. He put them in a center, innermost cell and had them bound hand and foot. He did all a person could do to make sure that these two did not escape.
Paul and Silas, wrongly accused, beaten, flogged and falsely imprisoned were now in prison. They likely had open and bleeding wounds. Their bodies aching. What was their emotional and spiritual status? What would ours be? We hope that our faith would not falter. A lot of that depends on how we are yielding to God and clinging to Him before some immense trial happens. Sure we want Jesus to come and take us all away with to heaven. But are preparing for that. But are we preparing for future hardships? Jesus is coming back and we yearn for Him. But part of our prize is to be proven, to ourselves and to each other, that we consider it an honor to suffer in His name (Acts 5:41). We do, don’t we?
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”