The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.


TRUST JESUS TODAY

  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Lock (03/06/06)
The keeper of the prison had ordered a lock down. The magistrates had ordered these two men beaten and thrown into prison. As an added precaution, the jailor had them put into the inner prison in stocks. He knew how important it was not to let these two troublemakers mix with the other prisoners. Prisoners, he knew from experience had a way of joining causes, any cause that might result in their freedom. Usually an insurgence would just end up inciting a riot with possible loss of life. He did not need that. It was his goal to keep these men quiet and locked away as longed as it took for the magistrates to bring them before the courts. The guards had told him that the crime the new prisoners were being charge with was really a misdemeanor not worthy of the lashes they had received. He heard they were Jews and they went around teaching that theirs was the only true God. But that was not his business his job was to keep his jail secure.

******************************


Silas looked at his friend, his mentor, and his brother in the Way. He received strength from the serene look upon Paul’s face. He looked down at his swollen ankles, the iron from the chain locks had cut into them. The stripes on his back were still stinging and oozing. The stocks actually kept him from falling he was so weak. Silas’ body was wracked with pain, but he endured not only for his friend Paul, but the thought of what the Lord Jesus Christ had suffered kept him going. It seemed to him that the guards gave Paul double the amount of lashes, yet Paul took every one of them without crying out once.

Day turned to night but Paul and Silas could not track time. The inner prison had no windows it was dark and dank at all times. It was around midnight that Paul and Silas began to pray and sing praises to God. The more they prayed and gave praises, the better they felt. They were so loud that the other prisoners heard them. Suddenly, there was a great earthquake and the foundations of the prison were shaken, all the doors flew open and everyone’s bands were loosed!

*******************************


The keeper of the prison was sure after the earthquake that the prisoners would take advantage and escape. Knowing his own life was at stake he drew his sword to take his own life, when Paul cried out to him “Do not harm yourself, we are all here!” The keeper took a light and ran in and fell at Paul and Silas’ feet and asked what must he do to be saved? They told him to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and that he and his household would be saved. After they shared the word of God with him, the keeper of the prison took Paul and Silas home with him. They were welcomed in, fed and their wounds cleaned. The keeper and his entire household received Christ and were baptized that very day.


Acts 16: 16-34
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE

JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
This article has been read 1341 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Jessica Schmit
03/14/06
This is the second Paul and Silas story I've read in the Intermediate level. Must be a popualr subject! You did a good job in writing this story. Although, I didn't feel the intensity of the situation or the joy after Paul and Silas were released. It seemed like the story was missing "something." But you have talent. keep writing!
Jan Ackerson
03/16/06
I think it would have been best to stick with one person's POV--either the keeper of the prison, or Silas. This was a great approach to the topic--insight into familiar Bible stories is always welcome.
Debbie Sickler
03/16/06
You wrote this pretty well, but to me, you kept a little too close to the original. I felt like I was just reading it from the Bible. For a retelling of a story, try approaching it from a different angle to make it fresh.
Helen Paynter
03/16/06
Also, you have a tendency to string two phrases or sentences together without punctuation. FOr example:
"The inner prison had no windows it was dark and dank at all times."
This would probably be better: "The inner prison had no windows. It was dark and dank at all times." Or you could use a comma/ semicolon.
That said, I enjoyed the story, especially the way you started it. Thank you and keep up the good work!