Seeking Justice
When a mistake is made, we sometimes want to quietly make it right.
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted in a loud voice, ‘Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.’ The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them outside and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ They answered, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.’ They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God. When morning came, the magistrates sent the police, saying, ‘Let those men go.’ And the jailer reported the message to Paul, saying, ‘The magistrates sent word to let you go; therefore come out now and go in peace.’ But Paul replied, ‘They have beaten us in public, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and now are they going to discharge us in secret? Certainly not! Let them come and take us out themselves.’ The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens; so they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. After leaving the prison they went to Lydia’s home; and when they had seen and encouraged the brothers and sisters there, they departed. - Acts 16:25-40
When Paul and Silas were arrested and put in prison, the magistrate didn't know Paul was a Roman citizen. He made a mistake by punishing him without a trial.
Justice wasn't served. So, when God released them, the magistrates sought to quietly send them on their way, but Paul wouldn't have it. He wanted a formal apology and a public dismissal of charges.
Who wouldn't want to be cleared of all charges?
It takes guts thought to confront your oppressors and demand justice, doesn't it? Paul was determined to make his case, having been beaten and humiliated in public.
Of course more is going on here. Once freed, they baptize the jailer and then later they encourage the believers. So, they stay true to their mission, while demanding respect.
They sought justice to be able to do the work they were called to do without being challenged, and they got what they wanted.
There is a lesson there, I think. Justice here is not the end goal, but a means to a just end.
What we want when we seek justice is to be free to do what we are called or destined to do and be. It is the freedom to work and live in peace that we desire. So, let us try to remember that as we call attention to all the injustice around us.
More to come...