Bible Strands
Acts 16:25
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul and Silas are confined in an inner prison cell with their feet secured in stocks, acting around midnight while other prisoners observe them.
The words — μεσονύκτιον (mesonuktion) marks the precise time of midnight, and προσευχόμενοι (proseuchomenoi) describes their continuous action of praying.
The thread — This posture of worship under confinement parallels the command to rejoice continually (1 Thessalonians 5:16), the psalmist’s midnight thanksgiving (Psalms 119:62), and the directive to count trials as joy (James 1:2).
Why it lands — The text states that Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns while physically restrained. It requires readers to sustain prayer and worship regardless of external circumstances.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
Cross-references
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice at all times.
- Psalms 119:62 At midnight I rise to give You thanks for Your righteous judgments.
- James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,
- Romans 5:3 Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
- 1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials
- Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
- Psalms 77:6 At night I remembered my song; in my heart I mused, and my spirit pondered:
- Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Hebrews 5:7 During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence.
- Psalms 50:15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.”