THURSDAY August 24, 2023
Go in Peace
And when it was day, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, “Let those men go.” So the keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace.”
Acts 16:35-36
Officers were sent to the jail to give word from the city’s magistrates–– Paul and Silas could leave––“depart, and go in peace.” They had beaten them openly, and now they wanted them to go silently into the streets in secret. They basically had decided to throw them out of the city without having any more fuss. Not so fast! Paul was not going to leave without settling accounts, and he firmly held his ground.
There was no way Paul and Silas were just going to up and leave. No, they were not going anywhere. Paul was playing hardball. He had a very good reason to. He told the officers: “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out” (Acts 16:37).
The magistrates would be shocked to find out that they had just beaten two Roman citizens. They had broken Roman law! So Paul had every right to be tough and insist they come themselves. He had good reason. If the magistrates wanted them gone, they would have to come and throw them out themselves. Paul was so smart!
Sometimes, as Christians, we have to make a stand for righteousness’ sake. We do not have to be intimidated by unrighteous people. We can stand strong in accordance with God’s moral law, speaking what is justifiable––what is right.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness....
~Ephesians 6:14~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
