50
Sketches from the Life of Paul
Satan stirred up a frenzy among the people. A mob spirit pre-
vailed, and was sanctioned by the authorities, who, with their official
hands, tore the clothes from the apostles, and commanded them to be
scourged. “And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast
them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely; who, having
received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made
their feet fast in the stocks.”
The apostles were left in a very painful condition. Their lacerated
and bleeding backs were in contact with the rough stone floor, while
their feet were elevated and bound fast in the stocks. In this unnatural
position they suffered extreme torture; yet they did not groan nor
complain, but conversed with and encouraged each other, and praised
God with grateful hearts that they were found worthy to suffer shame
for his dear name. Paul was reminded of the persecution he had
been instrumental in heaping upon the disciples of Christ, and he was
devoutly thankful that his eyes had been opened to see, and his heart
to feel, the glorious truths of the gospel of the Son of God, and that he
had been privileged to preach the doctrine which he had once despised.
[76]
There in the pitchy darkness and desolation of the dungeon, Paul
and Silas prayed, and sung songs of praise to God. The other pris-
oners heard with astonishment the voice of prayer and praise issuing
from the inner prison. They had been accustomed to hear shrieks and
moans, cursing and swearing, breaking at night upon the silence of the
prison; but they had never before heard the words of prayer and praise
ascending from that gloomy cell. The guards and prisoners marveled
who were these men who, cold, hungry, and tortured, could still rejoice
and converse cheerfully with each other.
Meanwhile the magistrates had returned to their homes congratu-
lating themselves upon having quelled a tumult by their prompt and
decisive measures. But upon their way home they heard more fully
concerning the character and work of the men whom they had sen-
tenced to scourging and imprisonment. They also saw the woman
who had been freed from Satanic influence, and who had been a very
troublesome subject to them. They were sensibly struck by the change
in her countenance and demeanor. She had become quiet, peaceful,
and possessed of her right mind. They were indignant with themselves
when they discovered that in all probability they had visited upon two
innocent men the rigorous penalty of the Roman law against the worst