"The Peace of God . . . Surpasses All Understanding"

"The peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts." -Philippians 4:7. 


IT IS midnight.  Two missionaries, Paul and Silas, are in prison-the innermost part of the prison=-in the city of Philippi.  Their feet are fastened securely with stocks and their backs are still aching from the beatings they had just received.  (Acts 16:23, 24)  How quickly things had happened!  Without a warning, they had been dragged by a mob to the marketplace to stand before a hastily convened court. Their clothes were torn off them, and they were severely beaten with rods.  (Acts 16:16-22) The injustice of it all!  Paul, a Roman citizen, deserved a proper trial. 

 As Paul sits in the darkness, he contemplates the events of the day.  He thinks  about the people of Philippi. They do not even have a Jewish synagogue in their city, unlike so many other cities that Paul had visited.  In fact, the Jewish worshipers need to gather outside the city gates beside a river.  (Acts 16:13,14) Is this because there are not even ten Jewish males in the city, the number required for a synagogue?  The people of Philippi are obviously very proud of their Roman citizenship, even if only a partial or secondary form of citizenship.  (Acts 16:21) Could this be why they do not even think it is possible that these Jews, Paul and Silas, could be Roman citizens?  Whatever the case, here they are, unjustly thrown into prison.

Perhaps Paul is also thinking about the events of the past few months.  He was on the other side of the Aegean Sea, in Asia Minor, While Paul was there, the holy spirit repeatedly stopped him from preaching in certain areas.  It was as if the holy spirit were pushing him to go somewhere else.  (Acts 16:6, 7)  But where?  The answer came in a vision while he was in Troas.  Paul was told:  "Step over into Macedonia."  With such a clear indication of Jehovah's will, Paul immediately accepted the invitation. (Read Acts 16:8-10)  But what happened next?  Soon after he arrived in Macedonia, he ended up in prison? Jehovah allowed this to happen to Paul? How long would he be stuck in prison?  Even if these questions weighed heavily on Paul's mind, he did not let  them erode his faith and joy. Both he and Silas started "praying and praising God with song." (Acts 16:25)  Their hearts and minds were soothed by the peace of God.

Next time:"The Peace of God . . . Surpasses All Understanding" -Conclusion

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