Monday, May 26, 2025

Stripped, beaten, thrown in jail


Responding to Acts 16: 16-34


Haiku of freedom


The fortune-telling

slave girl made heaps of money

for those who owned her.


The slave girl followed

Paul and Co. These men, she cried,

tell God's salvation.


Annoyed, Paul ordered

the spirit to leave the girl.

It left her at once.


The slave-girl's owners,

were not happy at the loss

of their enterprise.


Paul, Silas, were seized,

dragged before the magistrate;

They disrupt our life!


Attacked by the crowd,

stripped, beaten, thrown into jail;

poor Paul and Silas!


Praying and singing

as the earthquake struck; the doors

opened, chains fell off.


The jailer panicked.

Paul cried out: Don't harm yourself,

we are all still here!


Sirs, what must I do

to be saved! Trust in Jesus,

you and your household.


The guard took them home,

made them welcome, dressed their wounds

and offered them food.


The gathered household

hears the word of love and grace

and all are baptised.


© Ken Rookes 2025

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