路加的影子在使徒行傳中並不多見，此處是他第一次從幕後站出來：「我們往那禱告的地方去，有一個使女……被污鬼所附，用法術叫他主人們大得財利」（16節）。路加接著告訴我們：「他跟隨保羅和我們，喊著說：『這些人是至高上帝的僕人，對你們傳說救人的道』！」奇怪不﹖邪靈竟然如此明白的宣告使徒的任務。不過，我們也不應太驚訝，福音書裡有很多地方記載邪靈大聲證明耶穌的神性和祂在地上的事工。牠們活在靈界，因此非常清楚耶穌是誰，而雅各告訴我們，牠們甚是「戰驚」（雅2：19）。

        使女一連多日這樣喊叫，令保羅厭煩而對她說：「我奉耶穌基督的名吩咐你從她身上出來！」保羅吩咐那鬼，鬼也聽命行事，這使得使女的主人十分憤怒：因為他們得利的門路沒了。於是他們聳動城裡的百姓和官長，把保羅和西拉下到監裡。

        保羅和西拉被關在內監，身受棍打，腳上木狗，但他們「禱告，唱詩讚美上帝」（25節）。突然一陣強烈的地震震動了監獄，所有犯人的鎖鍊都鬆開了，甚至監門全開。魂不附體的獄卒正準備自殺，這時傳來保羅的聲音說：「不要傷害自己，我們都在這裡！」（28節）獄卒戰戰兢兢的俯伏在他們面前，發出一個全人類共同的問題：「我當怎樣行才可以得救﹖」

        被鬼附的使女已在全城散播保羅及其同伴來傳救恩的消息。獄卒可能也收聽到這個廣播。現在保羅告訴他答案：「當信主耶穌，你和你一家都必得救」（31節）。獄卒相信了，他和他的全家也都在那夜受洗。

        主啊，我們景仰您的聖德，也感謝您賜給我們家人救恩。您為保羅、西拉、和獄卒所顯的神蹟表明您的大能。主啊，求您繼續在我們每一天的生活中賜下神聖的宏恩。奉主耶穌聖名，阿們！

English

        There aren’t many places in Acts where Luke includes himself in the narrative, but here’s one occasion when he does. “Once when we were going to the place of prayer,” he recounts, were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling” (v.16). He goes on to say that this girl, “followed Paul and the rest of us shouting, ‘These men are servants of the most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved!’” Strange isn’t it? An evil spirit making such a clear proclamation of the apostles’ purpose – but then, maybe we shouldn’t be surprised. The gospels include many accounts of evil spirits testifying loudly to the deity and purpose of Jesus. They live in the spirit realm – they know exactly who Jesus is, and, as James tells us, they “tremble” (James 2:19).

        The girl kept at it for “many days” until Paul had had enough. “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” He commanded the spirit (v.18) and the spirit obeyed, and the girl’s owners became very angry: their source of income had fled. So they stirred up the people and the authorities, with the result that Paul and Silas were thrown into jail.

        As Paul and Silas sat on the floor of an inner cell, their feet fastened in stocks and their backs torn by a flogging, they prayed “and sang hymns to God” (v.25). Suddenly a violent earthquake shook the prison and all the prisoners’ chains came loose even as the prison doors flew open. The jailor, prepared to commit suicide, heard Paul’s voice over the uproar, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” (v.28). And trembling, the jailor rushed in and uttered that universal cry, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

        The spirit-possessed girl had broadcast the message to the whole city that Paul and his friends had come to show the way of salvation. It would appear the jailor had heard the broadcast. Now he asked the question and Paul gave the answer: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household” (v.31). The jailor believed, and he and his family were baptized that very night.

        Lord, we worship You for who You are and we thank You for the salvation of our families. Your miraculous intervention on behalf of Paul, Silas, and the jailor shows You mightily at work. Be pleased, O Lord, to continue Your great works of grace in us this day and every day. In Jesus’ Name, amen.