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The Secret of Joy That your joy may be full
T
he night was dark and the stone floor cold as the shackled prisoners were thrown into the deepest, darkest part of the prison and their bare feet locked in stocks. They were bruised and bleeding from the vicious beating they had just received; gradually the two men’s eyes adjusted to the dim surroundings of the inner prison. Paul and Silas were in the Macedonian city of Philippi, preaching the gospel, when a demon-possessed girl began following them, crying out and causing a disturbance wherever they went. Finally Paul rebuked the evil spirit, saying: “‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And he came out that very hour. But 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 16:18, 19). There was no trial; just a frenzied mob, lies, and corrupt officials. Motivated by greed and jealousy, masters of this rescued slave girl turned their wrath onto the two missionaries who had freed her from a life of demon possession and servitude. As they lay on the cold stone floor, bruised and bleeding, were Paul and Silas complaining about their terrible circumstances and clearly unfair treatment? No! Their hearts were filled with joy as they prayed and sang hymns to God (see Acts 16:25). This is not the first time we see Christ’s followers rejoicing in trial. In Acts 5, Peter and other apostles boldly proclaim their testimony before the Jewish council, consisting of the high priest “with all the elders of the children of Israel” (verse 21). The disciples’ testimony cut the leaders to the heart and they were furious. Had it not been for the intervention of
Image: Joel Mott
