The ploughers had ploughed upon their backs, making long furrows. The apostles, however, did not rest in a hospital, where they would have been treated by gentle nuns. Instead they were fastened with stocks and chains to sit in the dirty cell, where they were surrounded by darkness. They neither cursed, nor wept, but began singing hymns together. They were not satisfied with praying in a low voice, for their hearts were filled with thankfulness and praise. They rejoiced over Christ’s triumph in Macedonia following the prohibition by the Holy Spirit to continue in Asia Minor.
The morning of Christ’s triumph had begun shining in Europe. Darkness had begun to lift; the name of Him who had been raised from the dead had been proclaimed. There is no obstacle too big to prevent the breaking through and spreading of the kingdom of God on earth. The two suffering apostles sang hymns loudly so that the other prisoners heard them. It was midnight when the songs of praise began reaching heaven. This event in the Acts of the Apostles has been a source of comfort to many who have been tortured and persecuted in the history of the church. With songs of praise ascending at midnight God suddenly answered - not through an angel, or with words of revelation, but through a violent earthquake. It may have seemed to them at first that the devil was wanting to add to their suffering. Stones and dust began falling down on them from the ceiling. Yet immediately all the prison doors were opened and their tormenting chains fell off. In spite of this event, Paul did not use it as an occasion to run away. Other prisoners had been deeply impressed and awed by the apostles’ singing. Following God’s response to it with the earthquake they dared not move. All may have begun fearing God’s judgment upon their sins.
The keeper of the prison jumped out of his bed. Upon seeing the prison doors open, he supposed that all the prisoners had fled. He became afraid of the shame of their escaping his hand, and of what awaited him in trials, painful suffering, death to him, and slavery to his family. Overwhelmed with such fears and imaginations, he pulled out his sword, intending to commit suicide.
When Paul saw that the keeper of the prison was about to kill himself with the sword, he shouted: “Stop! Do not kill yourself! Do not be afraid! No one has escaped. All the prisoners are here!” The love in Paul’s voice and the comfort in these gentle words were contrary to the insults, curses, and shouting this officer had been accustomed to hear from prisoners. If the prisoners were given a chance to escape they would certainly take it, after first avenging themselves upon their guards. How strange and different this scene is! The prison doors are open, yet prisoners are not attacking like beasts. One of them, Paul, is requesting him, with kind and gentle words, not to harm himself. These words shocked the jailer, surpassing all his imagination. He was greatly surprised to see his enemy loving him, and who in fact had kept him from killing himself. His eyes began to open wide. His thoughts floated through his head as if he were in a deep dream.