Acts 16:22-34
22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” 29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.
Reflection
Today we will try Lectio Divina. This is a process of reading the scripture three times. After each reading answer the questions here for that reading and then read the scripture again. This process will help us focus on scripture in a different way.
1st Reading: What is one word or phrase the Holy Spirit impresses on you? Meditate on that.
2nd Reading: Enter into the scripture passage. What do you feel? What specific situation in your life today relates? Write down a prayer or pray quietly.
3rd Reading: What is God’s personal invitation for you from the scripture? You can write down what God may be saying to you, write a prayer of thanks, or rest quietly in God.
