Apologetic but not believing is a symptom of pride and sinfulness. This is the spiritual battle that the city officials found themselves in when they told the jailer to let Paul and Silas out of prison. The city officials placed Paul and Silas in jail as they responded to the mob’s wishes.
Earlier, Paul prayed for a fortune-telling slave girl to be freed from a demon. Because she could no longer tell fortunes, her masters grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities, complaining about their teaching. The city officials then ordered Paul and Silas to be beaten with wooden rods and placed them in prison. The following day, the city officials sent the police to the prison to free Paul and Silas. What drew them to change their minds? The text does not say, but I believe it was God’s intervention.
God Intervenes
God’s word does not say if the jailer told the police what had happened after the earthquake and how he and his family placed their faith in Jesus. Acts 16:36 So the jailer told Paul, “The city officials have said you and Silas are free to leave. Go in peace.” 37 But Paul replied, “They have publicly beaten us without a trial and put us in prison—and we are Roman citizens. So now they want us to leave secretly? Certainly not! Let them come themselves to release us!” [1]
Why did Paul need the city officials to come in person? The officials had no authority to beat, imprison, or torture a Roman citizen without permission from Rome. Acts 16:39 So they came to the jail and apologized to them. Then, they brought them out and begged them to leave the city.[2]
Turning Away From the Light
The city officials asked Paul and Silas to leave their city, blinded by the fact they were asking the bearers of God’s light to leave their city. They were sending away those who God had sent into their midst to save them. Our story illustrates the hearts of people as they encounter Jesus. Some will believe and turn toward God when the light shines, but others will not.
The slave girl was delivered from a demon, prisoners listened intently to Paul and Silas as they prayed and sang to God, and the jailer and family came to know Jesus. How sad that these city leaders would send away those bringing light into the darkness.
How about you? Where is your heart? Are you just hearing God’s word, but it is washing off you like a duck, or are you letting it transform you? Romans 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then, you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.[3]
Learn more about apologetic but not believing here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/singing-in-jail
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.