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Paul And Silas In Prison Prayer

A short, Scripture-shaped bible story prayer for an ordinary moment of Christian faith.

The prayer

A prayer to pray now

Father, I think of Paul and Silas in the prison at midnight. They had been beaten. They were locked in the inner cell. Their feet were chained. But they prayed and sang to You. The other prisoners listened. Then You sent an earthquake. The doors opened. The chains fell off. The jailer thought the prisoners were gone. He was about to hurt himself. But Paul and Silas had stayed. The jailer asked, 'What must I do to be saved?' He believed in You. He and his whole house were baptized that night. Father, their song in that dark cell was a witness. The jailer heard. You saved him. Give me that kind of voice in my own midnight. When I hurt, help me sing to You. Let my worship speak to the people around me. Let my song in suffering point them to You. Make my worship a true witness, like Paul and Silas in that prison. Amen.

How to pray it

  1. Read it slowly. Move through this prayer one line at a time, out loud if you can, letting each phrase land before the next.
  2. Make it personal. Pause where a line meets your day and name the person, fear, or hope it touches before God.
  3. Carry it with you. Keep one sentence with you — on your phone or in your pocket — and return to it when the day gets loud.

Verses to pray

Pray these slowly, one line at a time. Scripture quoted from a public-domain translation.

  1. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
    Acts 16:25
  2. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were loosened.
    Acts 16:26

Questions about this prayer

When should I pray paul and silas in prison prayer?

Pray it whenever the words fit your moment — at the start of the day, in a hard stretch, or when you simply want to turn toward God.

Which Bible verses anchor this prayer?

This prayer is anchored in Acts 16:25, Acts 16:26. The "Verses to pray" section above quotes them in full.

Can I save or share this prayer?

Yes. Use the Copy prayer button to copy the words, or open the Chosen Portion app to keep a daily prayer, devotional, and Scripture with you.