“About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God as the prisoners listened, there was suddenly such a severe earthquake that the foundations of the jail shook; all the doors flew open, and the chains of all were pulled loose.” —Acts 16:25–26 While Silas (also known as Silvanus) shared news from the Council of Jerusalem to believers in Antioch, Paul recognized that he was filled with great faith and zeal. So, not long after, Paul brought him along as an assistant on his second missionary journey. Silas encountered many adventures while traveling with Paul; however, their time in Philippi seems to have been the most remarkable. While preaching in Philippi, the two brethren came across a slave girl who also happened to be a fortune-teller. After hearing Paul and Silas preach, the girl felt compelled to trail behind them, constantly shouting out to people, “These people are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation.” After many days, the shouting irritated Paul. He turned to the slave girl and in the name of Jesus Christ commanded the spirit within her to leave — which it did! Just as the disruptive shouting stopped, the girl’s clairvoyant abilities ceased as well, causing a great loss of income to her owners. These infuriated slaveholders dragged Silas and Paul to the public square, where they were verbally attacked, stripped, beaten and then thrown into prison.
St. Silas — Prayed and Sang Hymns to God While in Prison| National Catholic Register
St. Silas — Prayed and Sang Hymns to God While in Prison| National Catholic Register
