“35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, ‘Let those men go.’ 36 And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, ‘The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.’ 37 But Paul said to them, ‘They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.’ 38 The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. 39 So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. 40 So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.”
Acts 16:35-40
‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’ 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
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MARCH 7, 2025
This week, we’ve been reflecting on Jesus’ power and how we can see that power in action in Acts 15:36-16:40. We’ve seen that Jesus’ power leads to the multiplying of disciples and the growth of his church and guiding believers along the journey of living lives surrendered to him. We’ve seen that Jesus has power over evil and can remove evil and will once and for all eradicate all evil. And we’ve seen that God can use his creation to lead people to humility, worship, and repentance.
Today, I want us to reflect on Jesus’ power over earthly authorities. The final verses of Acts 16 may not stand out to you in any way. They seem a bit business-as-usual for politics. Paul and Silas were thrown into prison even though they were innocent. The owners of the slave girl were furious that they had lost a significant source of income, and so they brought Paul and Silas before the magistrates, accusing them of causing trouble and being Jews. In Roman colonies, it was not against the law to be Jewish. It was against the law to be Christian. Yet, the local government and the unbelieving Gentiles don’t care about the law or justice. They only care about two things: money and power. Paul and Silas were dangerous only because they threatened their economic “well-being” and control over others. The local laws were ignored because they threatened both things, and “justice” was given.
In typical political fashion, the magistrates try to dismiss the matter quickly and quietly, releasing Paul and Silas in a way that was the complete opposite of how they were imprisoned. But Paul stands firm on God, the author of justice and truth, and even though lies had fueled their imprisonment, their freedom would be founded on the truth. Paul and Silas (yes, they are still in prison of their own free will now!) refuse to leave without the magistrates apologizing.
And the magistrates apologize!
God and God alone is the author of justice, and any form of justice that doesn’t align with the entire scriptural truth is not justice at all.
Questions for reflection and discussion:
- Have you ever wrestled with the idols of power and money?
- Where can you see the choice to ignore the well-being of others for the sake of self-centered economic gain and power?
Church Reading Plan:
- Today, March 7: Exodus 18; Luke 21
- Saturday, March 8: Exodus 19; Luke 22
- Sunday, March 9: Exodus 20; Luke 23