Acts 16:25

¶ And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

And {G1161} at {G2596} midnight {G3317} Paul {G3972} and {G2532} Silas {G4609} prayed {G4336}, and sang praises {G5214} unto God {G2316}: and {G1161} the prisoners {G1198} heard {G1874} them {G846}.

Around midnight, Sha’ul and Sila were praying and singing hymns to God, while the other prisoners listened attentively.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns unto God, and the prisoners were listening to them;

Acts 16:25 presents a powerful scene of faith and worship in the midst of severe adversity. At midnight, after being unjustly beaten and imprisoned in Philippi, Paul and Silas chose to pray and sing praises to God, audible to all the other prisoners.

Context of Acts 16:25

This verse is set during Paul's second missionary journey. In Philippi, Paul had cast a spirit of divination out of a slave girl, which angered her masters who profited from her fortune-telling. As a result, Paul and Silas were seized, dragged before the magistrates, severely beaten with rods, and then thrown into the inner prison with their feet fastened in stocks. Their response to this unjust suffering, rather than despair, was profound worship. This event immediately precedes the miraculous earthquake and the conversion of the Philippian jailer and his household, detailed in Acts 16:26 onwards.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Faith in Adversity: Despite their physical pain and dire circumstances, Paul and Silas did not complain. Their prayer and praise demonstrate an unwavering trust in God's sovereignty and presence, even in a Roman prison. This echoes Paul's later encouragement to the Philippians to "rejoice in the Lord alway."
  • Power of Prayer and Praise: Their actions were not passive. They were actively engaging with God through prayer and exuberant singing. This act of worship was a spiritual force that preceded the miraculous intervention that followed, highlighting the transformative power of genuine devotion.
  • Unintentional Witness: The phrase "and the prisoners heard them" is crucial. Their worship was not private; it was a public testimony. Their example of joy and peace in suffering became a powerful witness to those around them, preparing hearts for the dramatic events that followed and the message of the Gospel.
  • Divine Presence: This verse underscores the biblical truth that God is with His people even in the darkest of times. His presence empowers believers to transcend their circumstances and find joy.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "sang praises" comes from the Greek verb hymneō (ὑμνέω), which means to sing hymns or praise God with song. This suggests a vocal, perhaps even joyful, expression of worship rather than a quiet, internal meditation. The word for "prayed" is proseuchomai (προσεύχομαι), indicating a direct communication or supplication to God. The fact that "the prisoners heard them" (ἀκροάομαι - akroaomai, implying attentive listening) emphasizes the audible and impactful nature of their worship, distinguishing it from mere background noise.

Practical Application

Acts 16:25 offers profound lessons for believers today:

  • Choose Worship Over Despair: In our own moments of difficulty, injustice, or suffering, this verse challenges us to emulate Paul and Silas by turning to God in prayer and praise rather than succumbing to fear or bitterness.
  • Your Witness Matters: Our response to trials can be a powerful testimony to those around us, even to those who may be "imprisoned" by their own circumstances or spiritual darkness. Our faith, when displayed authentically in hardship, can draw others to inquire about the source of our strength.
  • God is Present: Remember that God is never distant, even in the most confining or painful situations. His presence is a source of strength, peace, and ultimate deliverance. Just as it paved the way for the jailer's conversion (Acts 16:31), our faith can impact others for eternity.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:16

    ¶ Rejoice evermore.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:18

    In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

  • James 1:2

    ¶ My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

  • Psalms 119:62

    ¶ At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.

  • Romans 5:3

    And not only [so], but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

  • 1 Peter 1:6

    ¶ Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

  • 1 Peter 1:8

    Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see [him] not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

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