John Calvin Commentary Acts 16:23

"And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:" — Acts 16:23 (ASV)

That he should keep them safe. Since the magistrates commanded that Paul and Silas should be guarded so diligently, this was done so that they might learn more about the matter. For they had already beaten them with rods to appease the tumult. And this is what I said recently: that the world rages with such blind fury against the ministers of the gospel that it shows no restraint in its severity.

But as it is very profitable for us, for the sake of example, to know how rudely and shamefully the witnesses of Christ were treated in times past, so it is no less profitable to know what Luke adds immediately concerning their fortitude and patience. For even when they lay bound with fetters, he says that in prayer they praised God, from which it appears that neither the reproach they suffered, nor the stripes which made their flesh smart, nor the stench of the deep dungeon, nor the danger of death, which was near at hand, could hinder them from giving thanks to the Lord joyfully and with glad hearts.

We must note this general rule: we cannot pray as we ought without also praising God. For although the desire to pray arises from the feeling of our need and miseries, and is therefore, for the most part, joined with sorrow and anxiety, yet the faithful must so restrain their emotions that they do not murmur against God. Consequently, the right form of prayer joins two seemingly quite contrary affections: namely, anxiety and sorrow, because of the present necessity which keeps us down, and joyfulness, because of the obedience by which we submit ourselves to God and because of the hope which, showing us the haven near at hand, refreshes us even in the midst of shipwreck.

Paul prescribes such a form to us. "Let your prayers," he says, "be made known to God with thanksgiving" (Philippians 4:6). But in this account, we must note the circumstances.

For though the pain of the stripes was grievous, the prison troublesome, and the danger great, since Paul and Silas did not cease to praise God, we gather from this how greatly they were encouraged to bear the cross. So Luke reported before that the apostles rejoiced because they were counted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of the Lord (Acts 5:41).

And those which lay bound. We must understand that Paul and Silas prayed aloud so that they might make the boldness of a good conscience known to others who were imprisoned with them.

For they might have made their prayer with secret groaning and sighing of heart, as they were accustomed, or they might have prayed to the Lord quietly and softly. Why then do they raise their voice?

Certainly, they do not do that for any ambition, but so that they might profess that, trusting in the goodness of their cause, they fly without fear to God. Therefore, their prayers included a confession of faith, which served as a public example and prepared both the other prisoners and the jailer’s household to consider the miracle.