As we pick back up the story of Paul and Silas in Acts 16, we find Satan active again in trying to stop the work of spreading the Gospel. Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown in prison. A slave girl, possessed of a satanic spirit of divination, was being used by her masters to enlarge their pockets financially.

In this case as in others, we see her demonic spirit recognizing that Paul and Silas were “servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation” (vs. 17). After doing this many days, Paul said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” Paul could not continue to allow those who belonged to Satan to testify for God’s servants.

Seeing their means of making a profit gone, Paul and Silas were seized and dragged to the authorities, where false charges were brought against them. How many false charges have been made in our nation concerning those who sought to practice their beliefs concerning Christianity since the sixties, in the public schools, in the courts, in political affairs, and other public arena’s? Satan is alive, well, and enjoying great success in our nation, as he uses those who seek to oust any public display of Christianity in our nation.

Paul and Silas, beaten and in chains in their cell, were not afraid or discouraged but continued to trust in God. Midnight found them praying and singing hymns to God – with the prisoners listening to them. And God heard them too. Suddenly an earthquake shook the foundations of the prison, throwing open the cell doors and loosening the chains of all the prisoners. This was no ordinary earthquake to do such as that. It was God’s doing.

The keeper of the prison, awakened by the earthquake and seeing the prison doors open, assuming that the prisoners had all escaped, was about to kill himself, but Paul called out to him, telling him that not a one of the prisoners had run. The jailer fell down before Paul and Silas trembling and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Verse 31).

Now if you have been taught that one is saved simply by believing, as many teach from this passage, you need to take another look at what is said. Paul and Silas did not say, “Simply believe, just believe, or all you have to do is believe.” Those words are not there. Can we add to God’s word? Of course, we know we cannot. And so we need to read on and read – “the rest of the story.” We’ll give the rest of the story in our next article in two weeks, but you don’t have to wait until then. You can read on from verse 31 right now.

If you have any questions, I’ll be glad to discuss them with you. We do not believe in adding to the Word of God, but we do always teach “the rest of the story.” Only then can we have the full truth of God’s word.