Poster Article:
Follow the Light

I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6).

The Apostle Paul and a disciple named Silas went to the city of Thyatira, Macedonia, and began to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people there.

The rulers of the city were angry. They had Paul and Silas beaten and their clothes torn off. Then the rulers had them thrown into prison.

Paul and Silas followed the Light of Jesus Christ, even there:

“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

“And 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.

“And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

“But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

“Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

“And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

“And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

“And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

“And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

“And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house” (Acts 16:25–34).

Although the keeper of the prison knew that he might be killed for allowing Paul and Silas to leave the prison, he followed the Light of Christ. He not only let them go, but he took them to his house, where they taught his family. Then he and his family were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ.

We are seldom, if ever, threatened with death if we join the Church. But like the keeper of the prison, we must learn the gospel of Jesus Christ and follow His light by having faith in Him and trying to be like Him.

Hidden Prison Prayer

By Arianne B. Cope

1. Mount page 35 on heavy paper; trim.

2. Fold picture in on broken line C (see illustration 1).

   

3. Fold doors out on broken lines A and B (see illustrations 2–3).

Illustrated by Dilleen Marsh