There are many ways that the power of God can bring ‘release’ (Acts 16.16-34).
Context
Release comes in many guises.
- Living in the USA, one is regularly confronted with stories of racism. Here is a refreshing personal account of someone confronting their racism.
- Is this story from Illinois, of spreading the Gospel to former gang members, that of a modern-day Paul and Silas?
- Also from the USA, comes a story of ‘release’ while still in prison.
- Releases come in all forms. Here’s a story about release from addiction from a colleague of mine.
Reflection
Over the years, whenever I have heard this week’s reading (Acts 16.16-34) expounded, the focus seems to linger on Paul and Silas’ miraculous release from their chains and imprisonment. However, these verses present three different types of ‘release’:
- First is the rather curious freeing of the slave-girl from the ‘spirit of divination’ (16.16). Ironically, this young woman had not asked for healing from Paul or Silas; rather, it came to her because of Paul’s annoyance! Even though she was proclaiming the truth! What became of her, the scriptures do not say. We only know that the spirit departed from her.
- The second release is that of Paul and Silas’ chains breaking loose and the prison door falling open.
- This is quickly followed by the third: the release of the jailer from his fears – fear of death, fear of losing those in his keeping; fear of reprisals against his family; and fear of the ‘divine’ earthquake (which is never attributed to God).
Here’s a fascinating bit: read again verses 30-34. Although ignored by many commentators, the text clearly reads that the jailer—who only moments previously thought his prisoners had escaped and therefore feared for his life—now escorts Paul and Silas out of the prison and into his home, where they are washed, their wounds tended, and they receive a meal – and the jailer’s entire family is baptized! The jailer then leads his charges back to prison in time for the court officers to come with notice of their release! Wow! That’s some release from fear, to go from attempting suicide to ignoring possible death for letting prisoners out in the middle of the night! For my money, that’s the amazing ‘release’ or transformation! How often might we miss such amazing transformations in our communities?
Prayer
Use Charles Wesley’s great hymn, ‘And can it be’ (which is based in part on Acts 16.26) as a sung or read prayer-reflection. Pause between each verse for personal reflection and/or spoken prayers from the congregation.
And can it be that I should gain
An int'rest in the Savior's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!
'Tis mystery all! Th'Immortal dies!
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine!
'Tis mercy all! let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
He left His Father's throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace;
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race;
'Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me.
Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee.
No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th'eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Questions
- What does ‘release’ mean to you? Have you ever experienced it?
- How do stories of personal release from addiction, abuse, or whatever, help the rest of us?
- Have you ever been in a position to offer release to another person?
All-age activity
Play the interview with Mac Otts, inviting people to listen carefully to his story and his odyssey of release from the demon of racism. The discuss these questions:
- Where does racism start? Are we born with it?
- Mac’s family would have considered themselves Christians – how can someone square ‘other hatred’ with Christianity?
- How can we reach out to or minister to people with racist beliefs?
Young people
Talk of ‘release’ or of personal transformation can often seem irrelevant to people who are just starting out in life. Nevertheless, younger and younger people are experiencing depression, body dysmorphia, drug/alcohol misuse, addiction to social media, self-harm and more. What ‘chains’ are you aware of at your school or among your friends? How seriously are such problems taken? How might you be of help?
The Revd Dr Jack Lawson is the Mission Implementation Coordinator for the United Methodist Church in central North Carolina. He also lectures in Hebrew Bible and is a free-lance author. He is the author of the novel ‘Doing Time’ which is based on his years as a chaplain in a Southern US women’s prison.
KEY: icon indicates ways to connect faith with everyday life
Hypertext links to other websites are for the convenience of users only and do not constitute any endorsement or authorisation by ROOTS for Churches Ltd.