Acts 16:25 - Persecution And Suffering Are No Match For Prayers And Singing.

Acts 16:25: Persecution And Suffering Are No Match For Prayers 
And Singing. 

Acts 16:25 (KJV)  And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and 
sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 

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

APPLICATION COMMENTARY

Prayed, and sang praises. the Greek expresses one continuous act 
rather than two. The missionaries' well-established devotional habits 
surmounted the most discouraging circumstances. Even when in a dungeon, and 
fettered so that they could not kneel in prayer, they continued to praise 
the Lord. The hymn may have been one of the prayer-psalms, but 
whatever they sang, Tertullian's words were true: "Though the body is 
shut in, though the flesh is confined, all things are open to the 
spirit. ... The leg does not feel the chain when the mind is in the 
heavens". [SDA Commentary] 

Around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns 
to God, and the other prisoners were listening. What an incredible 
scene this must have been! Paul and Silas were barely into their first 
stop on what promised to be a wildly effective Macedonian 
evangelistic campaign -- God had verbally called them there (16:9-10). In 
short order, however, they found themselves the victims of false and 
prejudicial charges, locked up in the depths of a Roman jail, in stocks! So 
what did they do? Moan? Whine? Blame God? Give up? No, their jail 
term was marked by only two activities: praying and singing hymns to 
God. (The Life Application Commentary Series) 

   Stripped, beaten, placed in stocks, and locked in an inner 
cell in a prison--Paul and Silas had every reason to moan about their 
unfortunate situation. Amazingly, they did not. Why? Because of the joy that 
Jesus had given them.  
   Joy is not the same as happiness. You will feel happy when 
everything is going well in life; but not so happy when the car needs 
repairs, the bank account is overdrawn, or the medical report is not 
good. You may not be happy, but you can still be joyful. Joy comes 
from deep within, from the knowledge that ultimately God is in 
control of all that occurs in your life and he will help you through it. 
 
   Jesus promised his followers: "I have told you these things 
so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will 
overflow!" (John 15:11, May 26). When you are saved, you are given a well 
of joy deep within that can never run dry. Even more, that joy 
bubbles up like a fountain and overflows to everyone around you. Just as 
Paul and Silas's joyful response in prison impacted the other 
prisoners and the jailer, so you can impact others. [The One Year Bible 
for New Believers re Acts 16:25] 

What a testimony of godliness is found in this verse!  Paul and 
Silas are in prison for preaching the gospel, and yet they are so 
filled with joy that they sing and pray.  While many of us are quick to 
pray in times of trouble, not many would be found singing and 
praying.  We more likely would be crying and praying!  What did Paul and 
Silas understand about the Lord that we do not?  Is our focus on 
ourselves rather than on God?  Do we seek comfort and ease above the will 
and plan of God?  Write down what you pray for and your state of 
mind while praying. If you are not able to sing with joy, even during 
difficult times, ask God to show you what Paul and Silas knew about Him!  
[In His Time; Walk With Wisdom] 

Paul and Silas were stripped, beaten, and placed in stocks in 
the inner cell. Despite this dismal situation, they praised God, 
praying and singing as the other prisoners listened (16:22-25). Did they 
"feel" like worshiping? Probably not. They were likely aching, tired, 
and scared. But they were determined to give glory to God, who they 
trusted was in control of their situation. They clung to the 
hard-to-understand truth previously announced by Jesus: "Blessed are you when 
people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil 
against you because of me" (Matt 5:11 NIV). The radical response to 
worship was a decision of their will. No matter what our circumstances, 
we can choose to praise God. Others may even come to Christ because 
of our example. (The Life Application Commentary Series) 

When you hurt, ask God to give you songs in the night (Ps. 
42:8). [Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe re 
Act.16:25] 

If you cannot rejoice in your circumstances, you can always 
rejoice in the Lord who controls your circumstances. Fix your attention 
on Him. He may not change your situation, but He will change you; 
and that is even better. [Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary by 
Warren Wiersbe re Phil. 3:1] 

The legs feel nothing in the stocks when the heart is in 
heaven.-- Tertullian   

Neh 8:10b (KJV)  The joy of the LORD is your strength.