And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, (20) And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, (21) And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. (22) And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. (23) And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely: (24) Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
Reader! while attending to what is here said, in the conflicts and sufferings of God's faithful servants, do not forget what the Lord Jesus said, In the world ye shall have tribulation. In me ye shall have peace, John 16:33. Paul refers to this unjust and cruel treatment in his Epistle to the Thessalonians; and makes use of it to shew that the Lord's promise had its accomplishment. For yourselves (said he) brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain; but even after we had suffered before, and were shamefully treated as ye know at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the Gospel of God with much contention, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-2. And it is very blessed to behold, how stripes occasioned strength; and the malice of enemies endeared the Lord to the hearts of his suffering servants. Look at these holy men under every conflict. Wherever they were, how shamefully soever, as Paul saith, they were handled, the bitterness of persecution only rendered them more impregnable to suffering. None of these move me, (said Paul), neither count I my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God, Acts 20:24. What a blessed frame of mind! Oh! what a gracious God to give it!