We have been hearing stories about the development of the early Church from the Acts of the Apostles during the Easter season. Many of these readings from Acts center upon Paul and his associates and their missionary travels.
Today, we hear one of the most dramatic scenes from our readings from Acts, as Paul and his companion are brought before the court, flogged, and thrown into jail. Paul, Silas and the rest of the prisoners are freed from prison due to a strong earthquake that happened in response to the prayers and hymns that Paul and Silas offered. The guard, who was responsible for the security of the prisoners, prepared to kill himself out of shame for having failed his responsibilities. Yet, Paul tells him not to harm himself, that Paul and the others are not going to escape. This brings about a conversion in the heart of the guard. We don’t hear the end of the story in our reading today, which concluded with the magistrates setting Paul and Silas free and apologizing for having treated them as Roman citizens in such an unlawful and undignified way.
Perhaps this story shows an insight which many of us have learned in the harsh reality of the pandemic: that in the midst of the hardships and sufferings, God can still be at work in our lives and there are still blessings to discover. Out of the harsh circumstances which met Paul, Silas and prison guard, a story of conversion and Christ’s love developed. A Christian community developed in a place that had Paul and Silas flogged and put into jail. Paul’s letter to the Philippians came out of these circumstances with the community in Philippi. Yes, God’s blessings can be found in many different places and circumstances.
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