Paul and Silas were preaching the gospel and teaching the new believers how to live their new life in Christ (Acts 16:13-15). A demonised slave girl, whose owners made money out of her fortune-telling occult powers, was following the apostolic team and shouting out the truth about the gospel. But Paul did not want Satan to pretend to validate the gospel ministry or mock the message. So Paul commanded the evil spirit to come out of her. Instantly, she was quiet and in her right mind (Acts 16:16-18).

The slave owners realised they had lost their income. They arrested Paul and Silas and dragged them before the magistrates in Philippi. For whatever reason, the city did not welcome Jews: there were not enough men (10 were required) to start a synagogue, which was why God-seekers met by the riverside (Acts 16:13). So the charge of being Jewish was enough to stir up a crowd. To quell a potential riot, the magistrates seized the initiative and had them publically stripped and beaten.

Then they were taken into the jail – as much to calm the crowds as to punish Paul and Silas. Clearly they were politically dangerous prisoners. Philippi was a Roman military centre, and any disturbance in the city would have been seen as a weakness of the civic authorities, with severe penalties to those in charge. So the missionaries must not be allowed to cause more disturbance or try to escape. Incarcerated in the inside cell with their ankles trapped in stocks, the men could give no more trouble that night, or so everybody thought.

The gospel is powerful to change people's lives as they repent and receive Jesus Christ (Romans 1:16): it also attracts opposition (Philippians 1:7). Satan's kingdom is threatened by gospel truth proclaiming that Jesus can set people free from the devil's grip. Most hostile people have no idea that they are collaborating with the Evil One when they try to stop believers speaking about Jesus, but they are. From a human point of view, believers may feel impossibly overwhelmed – trapped by the evil which they had wanted the gospel to expose and Jesus to defeat. Instead of success, ministry seems a disaster. Those are real feelings, and opponents may seem to have the advantage. But the Lord is waiting to show His hand of power. Trust Him and wait for His answer.