If the proceedings of the missionaries, before their committal to prison, produced such a ferment, it is clear that the circumstances attending their incarceration were not calculated to abate the excitement.  It soon appeared that they had sources of enjoyment which no human authority could either destroy or disturb; for as they lay in the pitchy darkness of their dungeon with their feet compressed in the stocks, their hearts overflowed with divine comfort.  “At midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God:  and the prisoners heard them.” [94:2] What must have been the wonder of the other inmates of the jail, as these sounds fell upon their ears!  Instead of a cry of distress issuing from “the inner prison,” there was the cheerful voice of thanksgiving!  The apostles rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer in the service of Christ.  The King of the Church sympathised with His oppressed saints, and speedily vouchsafed to them most wonderful tokens of encouragement.  Scarcely had they finished their song of praise when it was answered by a very significant response, proclaiming that they were supported by a power which could crush the might of Rome.  “Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.” [95:1]

It is not improbable that the mind of the jailer had already been ill at ease.  He must have heard of the extraordinary history of the damsel with the spirit of divination who announced that his prisoners were the servants of the Most High God, and that they shewed unto men the way of salvation.  Rumour had, perhaps, supplied him with some information in reference to their doctrines; and during even his short intercourse with Paul and Silas in the jail, he may have been impressed by much that he noticed in their spirit and deportment.  But he had meanwhile gone to rest, and he remained asleep until roused by the noise and tremor of the earthquake.  When he awoke and saw “the prison doors open,” he was in a paroxysm of alarm; and concluding that the prisoners had escaped, and that he might expect to be punished, perhaps capitally, for neglect of duty, he resolved to anticipate such a fate, and snatched his sword to commit suicide.  At this moment, a voice issuing from the dungeon where the missionaries were confined, at once dispelled his fears as to the prisoners, and arrested him almost in the very act of self-murder.  “Paul cried with a loud voice, saying—­Do thyself no harm, for we are all here.” [95:2] These words operated on the unhappy man like a shock of electricity.  They instantaneously directed his thoughts into another channel, and imparted intensity to feelings which, had hitherto been comparatively dormant.  The conviction flashed upon his conscience that the men whom he had so recently thrust into the inner prison were no impostors; that they had, as they alleged, authority to treat of matters infinitely