Being Active In Prison- How Paul Used Every Possibility To Worship God And Spread God’s Word

Being Active In Prison- How Paul Used Every Possibility To Worship God And Spread God’s Word

After his conversion on the road to Damascus, Paul spent considerable time in prison for preaching the Word. But his determination to spread the faith was never deterred by his incarcerations. He continued being active in prison. How Paul used every possibility to worship God and spread God’s word is an inspiration to everyone, especially Christians who find themselves imprisoned around the world.

On his second missionary journey, Paul cast a demon out of a woman. Unfortunately, that demon helped the woman make predictions that some men in town were exploiting to make money. The men became angry and accused Paul and Silas, who accompanied him, of teaching anti-Roman practices. They were arrested.

In jail, they were chained in an inner room by a guard who was warned to guard them closely. Paul and Silas sang to the Lord and proclaimed his word until midnight when an earthquake happened that broke their chains and swung open all the doors to the prison. The guard was ready to fall on his sword, thinking he had failed his charge, but Paul called out to stop as no one had left.

The guard took the pair to his home where he dressed their wounds and asked them about Jesus. His whole family accepted their savior that night. In the morning, they were freed. (Acts 16:16-40)

Paul was unjustly jailed again after Jews claimed he brought a Gentile into the synagogue. The Romans brought him to Caesarea to plead his case. There was no reason for it, but the magistrate held him two years hoping he might receive a bribe for his release.

He was then sent to Rome as a prisoner. He was shown some favor by Roman authorities, including being allowed to serve his sentence in a rented apartment. Still, he wore chains and was a prisoner. He continued showing us his zeal for spreading the Word by being active in prison. How Paul used every possibility to worship the Lord and spread God’s Word is evident in the scripture.

Acts 28 details meetings with Jewish leaders. The author of Acts apparently knows Paul’s fate but offers no specific details. This is consistent with the selective process of the Bible, written, of course, to share God’s Word, not Paul’s story.

Still, his letters to the Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, and Philemon offer glimpses into how active a preaching life he led while in Rome. He had the city abuzz in Christianity. Even Caesar’s family are mentioned among the converts, which may mean his inner political circle.

His writings detail how difficult his life was, but Paul always extolled us to rejoice, as he did, in the Lord’s name and grace. Paul changed Rome by being active in prison. How he used every possibility to worship God and spread God’s word changed all of history as well.

Paul had the Word instilled upon him by the Lord. We may have to work a little harder at it. Get yourself a Bible and read God’s history and promise. Take a course in Bible study or even pastoring and church management through places like the International Christian College and Seminary (http://www.iccscampus.org/). Read especially how Paul used his time as an inmate to spread the faith. Be inspired and rejoice in God’s Name.