Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

First, I would say that, by my reading of the cited passage, Paul and Silas did not start singing and praying at midnight, but had been doing so continuously for some time previous (as they might have been expected to do in response to preachings from Jesus such as found in Matthew 5:11-12) -- not to mention the fact that, by my understanding of manner in which they were confined, sleep would have been all but impossible. Instead, midnight was the time that God chose to act in response to their situation.

In that respect, the timing of His deliverance may have been designed to bring to mind the exodus from Egypt, when the Bible specifically records that the final plague that God inflicted upon Egypt (the death of the firstborn) in order to deliver Israel from their bondage there occurred at midnight (Exodus 12:29).

Also, since midnight is figuratively associated with the greatest levels of both inactivity and darkness, it seems to me that God chose that hour to emphatically witness to everyone else involved that He (as a Being of Light and the controller of events) was not limited by either natural or human constraints or habits, but was capable of acting on behalf of His servants at any time and in any manner.

November 21 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Janet Hegna

The word says to praise Him in the good times as well as the bad, and I believe they were doing just that as an example for the world.The HOLY BIBLE is God's word, but it also means He Only Left You Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. It's really sad to see society repeating His-story again and again. Be blessed.

March 19 2022 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report