16:16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:

16:17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

16:18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

16:19 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,

16:20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,

16:21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.

16:22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.

16:23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

16:24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

16:26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

16:27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his

sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

16:28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

16:29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

16:30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

16:32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

16:33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

16:34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. Acts 16:16-34

Intro: Paul and Silas have been thrown into prison because of their stand for Jesus Christ (v.16-24)

They had been preaching contrary to the established religion of that day.

Now in v.25 we find them in the inner prison and in stocks. The keeper wasn’t taking any chances. At midnight, when exhausted from the scourging and stocks was expected,

1. They prayed,

2. Sang praises &

3. The prisoners heard them.

Here is a midnight revival meeting.

Please note with me--------

Paul and Silas prayed Acts 16:25

1.And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Luke 18:1

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Prayer is talking to God and Bible reading/study/meditation is God talking to us.

2. The Model Prayer or Disciples Prayer

6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.

6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Matthew 6:8-13

7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

3. Paul and Silas meant business with and for God!

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. Acts 4:31

4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 1 Timothy 2:5

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. Jeremiah 33:3

Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. James 4:2

18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

18:2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

18:3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

18:4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

18:5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

18:6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? Luke 18:1-8

You see, now, why prayer was made by Paul and Silas!

The believed the words of Jesus and acted on them.

"and sang praises unto God" Acts 16:25

1. The believer can have a song at night!

And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 1 John 1:4

Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. Psalm 42:8

If the Christian doesn’t have a song, something’s wrong! Who else can?

When saved, caused rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God.

Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. Luke 15:10

Probably singing, too! Is there still rejoicing and singing?

137:1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

137:2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.

137:3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.

137:4 How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land? Psalm 137:1-4

2. David and other writers in Psalms wrote songs of joy.

I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 89:1

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: Psalm 92:1

O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Psalm 95:1

40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

40:2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

40:3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Psalm 40:1-3

3. Some wonderful day there will be a new song!

5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. Revelation 5:9-10

"and the prisoners heard them" Acts 16:25

1. This is most important.

We are saved to serve.

Share salvation with others.

We are selfish if we don’t.

Very nature of child of God to give.

2. Every lost person is a prisoner.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:17

Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Romans 8:21

3. It is necessary to pray and sing praises to get prisoners to listen to us.

4. Even at midnight we may have the prisoners hear us! People may be converted to Christ anytime! Does not depend on weather conditions, feelings, occupation, education, any situations.

5. RESULTS:

16:26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

16:27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his

sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

16:28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

16:29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

16:30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

16:32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

16:33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

16:34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. Acts 16:26-34

Prayers were made by Paul and Silas,

Praises were sung,