The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 16:35-40, “Now when day came, the chief magistrates sent their policemen, saying, ‘Release those men.’
36 And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The chief magistrates have sent to release you. Now
therefore, come out and go in peace.”
37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us in public without trial, men who are Romans, and have thrown us
into prison; and now are they sending us away secretly? No indeed! But let them come themselves and bring
us out.”
38 And the policemen reported these words to the chief magistrates. And they were afraid when they heard that
they were Romans,
39 and they came and appealed to them, and when they had brought them out, they kept begging them to leave
the city.
40 And they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia, and when they saw the brethren, they
encouraged them and departed.”

Were you ever severely mistreated? Someone accused you of doing something you did not do? What are we to do in such circumstances? I was watching a football game on television. The quarterback threw the pass too quickly. He didn’t let “the play develop,” as it was intended. Sometimes it’s like that with us. Certainly, it was like that with Paul. He and Silas had been beaten with rods, imprisoned in stocks –all without their legal rights under the strictness of Roman Law.

Why didn’t Paul acknowledge his Roman citizenship from the start? He was allowing “the play to develop.” Had he reacted earlier, the jailor and his household would not have come to faith in Jesus Christ. The delay also gave time for Lydia’s household to learn of their plight and call prayerfully for help from their newly-found Savior. Paul may have recalled Solomon’s words that there is “a time to be silent, and a time to speak” (Ecc. 3:7b).

The magistrates, who had ordered the LORD’s servants to be beaten and imprisoned, may have been frightened by the earthquake and the potential loss of all the prisoners. In any event, they sent word that Paul and Silas were to be immediately released. Yet, once again Paul allowed “the play to develop,” when he refused to leave.
What they have done to us as Romans was illegal, he said. And now they just want us to go away? Not on your life! There is a time for us to “stand up and be counted!” There is a time for the “frighteners” to be frightened. But, we must be certain everything is according to the LORD’s leading and that it all occurs according to His time.

Never allow fear to dominate your circumstances! Just recognize that Christ is in control of all situations. And when we belong to Him, the “plays will develop” according to His will and all will be well with us.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom