But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.”
Acts 16:37 NIV
In Acts 16, Paul and Silas faced fierce opposition in Philippi after Paul cast a spirit out of a slave girl who had been fortune-telling for her owners. Losing their income enraged her owners, and they dragged the apostles before the magistrates. Without a trial, the crowd turned against them, and the magistrates ordered them stripped, beaten, and thrown into prison under heavy guard (Acts 16:16-24). They made a deliberate decision, surrendering rights for Christ and trusting that God’s purposes outweighed their personal comfort.
What stands out is not only their worship in prison but also their choice to endure suffering they could have avoided. As Roman citizens, Paul and Silas had legal rights that protected them from such treatment. Yet they kept silent until the next morning (Acts 16:37).
That night, still bruised and chained, they prayed and sang to God. The other prisoners listened as faith filled the darkness. Suddenly, an earthquake shook the prison, flung the doors wide open, and broke every chain (Acts 16:25-26). The jailer, thinking everyone had escaped, prepared to take his own life. Paul called out and stopped him. Trembling, the jailer asked how he could be saved. Paul and Silas shared the gospel, and before sunrise, he and his whole household believed, were baptised, and rejoiced in their new faith (Acts 16:27-34).
All of this happened because Paul and Silas chose to endure injustice instead of defending themselves. If they had claimed their rights immediately, the jailer would never have witnessed their faith in chains or heard their worship in the night. Surrendering rights for Christ became the path through which an entire family came into God’s kingdom.
Their example challenges us today. The world teaches us to defend ourselves at all costs, but Christ often calls us to lay down our privileges for the sake of others. Yielding is not weakness; it is strength placed under God’s authority. This path may lead through hardship, yet it carries the potential for eternal impact.
Living It Out
God often begins His greatest works in the places we most want to avoid. Choosing surrendering rights for Christ may cost us comfort, but it allows His glory to shine through our lives. When injustice or hardship comes, resist the urge to protect yourself first. Trust that your obedience could open the door for someone else to meet Jesus. Eternity may tell the story of lives transformed because you endured and kept praising in the night.