And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, "These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice."
Acts 16:20-21

Philippi was a city in Macedonia, named after the father of Alexander, the founder of the Greek Empire, but it had been designated a Roman Colony, which meant that it had become a place for hundreds of Roman military veterans to settle and be given a farm, upon their retirement. This was the Roman Empire’s way of spreading the Roman culture and Latin language throughout the territory it had conquered. These retired Legionnaires tended to be loyal citizens of the Empire and could also be re-called to service, in case of an uprising of local rebels.

The accusation against the Apostles was brought by some local slave-owners who were losing money because of the work of the Christian missionaries. They manipulated the anti-semitic undercurrent in the local population by accusing Paul and Silas of being Jews (which was true) and of preaching anti-Roman ideas (which was false). But their plan worked; Paul and Silas were arrested, stripped of their robes and beaten with sticks, then locked away in the stocks in the innermost dungeon of the city jail.

How could God turn such a situation into good for His beloved servants? 

Well, he did, and as always it came in unexpected ways, and it turned into something far better than they could have dreamed up or engineered themselves. You can read the rest of the chapter (Acts 16) if you want the details.

But God has promised that He will work all things for good, for those who love Him. Nothing that happens to you is exempted from all things. Let Him prove the truth of His Word in your life. Trust Him and wait to see how it will work, this time.

Lord, I know that You are working in all things for my good. I trust You, and I’m waiting to see what kind of good You have in mind, so I surrender my current “all things” to You, and wait in joyful anticipation. Amen!

Pastor Dan Giles