12th Sep 26 | 04:00
Daily Study
Seek justice
Acts 16 - Series 04/Episode 51 - Sat 05th Sep 2026 - Seek justice - Acts 16:16-40 - EXPERIENCES AT PHILIPPI - Isaiah 01:17
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Acts 16:35-40 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, "Let those men go." (36) 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." (37) But Paul said to them, "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." (38) And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans. (39) Then they came and pleaded with them and brought them out, and asked them to depart from the city. (40) So they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.
The magistrates sent their officers to the prison with instructions to the jailor to let Paul and Silas go free. How would we have taken this news, had we been in their place? Probably, we would have been overjoyed and considered this news as a deliverance from God. Paul responded differently. Paul was a Roman, and he knew his legal position very well. Silas too was a Roman, and so this was learning time for Silas too.
We are subject to authorities and our governments. Romans 13:1-2 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. (2) Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. / I Peter 2:13-14 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, (14) or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. / Titus 3:1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, When authorities become unjust, dishonest and corrupt, believers must stand for truth - peacefully, courageously, and without violence.
In the matter of sharing the Gospel, the apostles were very clear on their stand. Acts 5:28-32 saying, "Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!" (29) But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men. (30) The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. (31) Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. (32) And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him." The apostles knew that no authority or laws set by leaders can prevent them from sharing the Gospel. This is the stand that the church must embrace wholeheartedly.
The church must stand up for truth and justice. _Proverbs 31:8-9 Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die. (9) Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy. / Proverbs 16:11-12 Honest weights and scales are the LORD's; All the weights in the bag are His work. (12) It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, For a throne is established by righteousness.
We have a prophetic role as His church. Acts 2:17-18 'AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THE LAST DAYS, SAYS GOD, THAT I WILL POUR OUT OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL FLESH; YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS. (18) AND ON MY MENSERVANTS AND ON MY MAIDSERVANTS I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT IN THOSE DAYS; AND THEY SHALL PROPHESY. / Jeremiah 1:4-5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: (5) "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations."
The magistrates in Philippi violated truth and justice. First, they had the apostles stripped and beaten with rods in public, without a trial. They then threw them into prison. Now, as soon as it was day, before the city woke up, they wanted Paul and Silas to be freed and sent away from Philippi. They did not expect to be confronted and shocked by the fact that Paul and Silas were Romans. Paul had to stand up against this cowardice, deception and injustice. Paul's stand was not personal pride, not stubbornness, not rebellion. It was a prophetic confrontation of systemic evil
Learning: The church must be prepared to take similar positions - peacefully, truthfully, courageously - whenever injustice, deception, and cowardice corrupt public life. Are we prepared? _Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.
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