The Night the Prison Doors Opened
An ancient story about freedom, faith, and choosing compassion over escape
Welcome to today’s reflection.
Some stories in the Bible feel dramatic because of what happens. Others are unsettling because of what doesn’t.
This is one of those stories.
Prison doors open. Chains fall away. Escape is possible. Yet, no one runs.
What follows isn’t a lesson in miracles or moral heroics, but a quieter question about freedom, discernment, and what really saves us when everything starts to shake.
The book of Acts tells the story of the early Christian movement. It’s full of extraordinary moments: earthquakes, prison doors swinging open, flashes of light. But tucked inside all the drama is a story that looks like it has a glaring plot hole.
Paul and Silas are jailed in Philippi. During the night, an earthquake shakes the prison, the doors fly open, and the chains fall off. The obvious question is: why didn’t they just run?
Because the real story wasn’t about escape, it was about something much deeper.
