A Witness Who Convicts

In the book of Acts, praise had an astonishing effect on those who

heard it. Read Acts 16:16–34. Having been stripped and beaten hard,

Paul and Silas were thrown into prison. No one was there to put oint-

ment on their badly cut and bruised backs. In great physical pain and

with their feet in stocks, they were placed in the darkness of the inner

prison. But as the other prisoners sat listening, Paul and Silas begin to

pray and sing.

After the earthquake, and after he had discovered that neither Paul

nor Silas nor any of the other prisoners had escaped, the jailer “fell

trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked,

‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ ” (Acts 16:29, 30, NIV).

Why did this event cause the jailer to focus on his own need of salva-

tion? What role do you think Paul and Silas’s prayers and songs

played in the prisoners’ not running away, and in the conversion of

this man and his whole family?

It is amazing to think that our praise can transform the eternal desti-

nies of those around us. If Paul and Silas had sat in the dark mumbling

and complaining as prisoners often do, do you think anyone would have

been saved that night?

We don’t know what happened to the jailer and his family later on,

but can you imagine them reading the words that Paul later wrote from

another prison in Rome: “For it has been granted to you on behalf of

Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you

are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that

I still have” (Phil. 1:29, 30, NIV). If they did read this and reflect on

how Paul’s suffering had brought them joy, it surely must have brought

a song to their hearts and a fresh challenge to remain faithful, no mat-

ter the cost.

Who do you think could be influenced for God by a song of praise

that could come from your heart? Make a concerted effort to be

more open and effusive in your praise to God around others. You

don’t know the positive effect it could have.