009. Paul Frees a Slave Girl from a Demon, Inciting a Violent Mob

Paul Frees a Slave Girl from a Demon, Inciting a Violent Mob
About 5 minutes, from Acts 16: 16-34

Participants (No need to memorize lines; the aim is to relive sacred events, not to perform)
Â Â Jailer
Â Â Silas
Â Â Paul
Â Â Sophie
Â Â Slave-owner
Â Â PrompterÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Shout a brief line and Echoes repeat it.
Â Â EchoesÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Children and all adults who want to take part. Echoes need no script.

Silas	Paul, that crazy slave girl has been following us ever since we arrived here in Thyatira.
Sophie	Â (Shout) These servants of the Most High God show us the way of salvation!
Prompter & Echoes	She’s mocking!
Paul	She has an evil spirit, Silas. I will drive it off.
Sophie	You won’t dare mess with me! Here comes one of my owners. He won’t let you. I make him wealthy with my fortune telling.
Slave-owner	Paul, you will not drive out that spirit of divination! Leave her alone!
Paul	In the name of Jesus, leave her, you filthy demon!â€
Prompter & Echoes	Come out of her!
Silas	The spirit has left her, Paul. Her face has brightened!
Sophie	Oh, thank you, thank you! I am in my right mind. This is wonderful!
Slave-owner	What have you done to our servant girl? You had no right! She brought us our income. Citizens of Thyatira, seize these two troublemakers!
Paul	They grab Silas and me, and drag us before the authorities.
Slave-owner	Esteemed magistrates, these men have thrown our city into confusion. They’re Jews and proclaim customs that are unlawful for us Romans.
Sophie	I’m so sorry! Because of me this furious mob has formed. Oh no! The magistrates have arrested Paul and Silas. The jailer has ripped off their robes, and is beating them with clubs!
Prompter & Echoes	Cruel!
Jailer	Gentlemen, enjoy the plush accommodations of my fine jail! I shall guard you securely, as the magistrates ordered. The penalty for me if you escape is torture and death. Since you are my honored guests, you may have my innermost and most miserable cell.
Silas	How considerate!
Jailer	Sit still while I lock your feet in these stocks.
Prompter & Echoes	Painful!
Silas	About midnight, Paul and I are praying and singing hymns.
Jailer	What is that rumbling?
Prompter & Echoes	Earthquake!
Jailer	The prison’s foundations are shaking! Help! The walls are crumbling; they will no longer grip the prisoners’ chains! I hear doorframes break in the dark; the doors have swung wide open! The prisoners have fled! I will fall on my sword and die.
Paul	Wait! Do not harm yourself. We are here!
Jailer	I call for lights and rush in, trembling so that I can barely speak. I fall down before Paul and Silas. Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
Paul	Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you’ll be saved, you and your family.
Prompter & Echoes	Your entire household!
Silas	The jailer takes us that night to his home and washes our wounds. We tell him and his family about the Lord Jesus Christ. They believe, and we baptize his entire household.
Jailer	Here is food, my brothers. Eat and rejoice with us.
Silas	Day comes, and officers arrive from the magistrates to release Paul and me.
Paul	Oh, fine! Your magistrates beat us in public without a trial, although we are Romans, and throw us in prison! Now they want to send us away secretly! No indeed! Go tell them to come themselves and bring us out.
Jailer	The officers report Paul’s words to the chief magistrates. They are fearful when they hear that Paul and Silas are Romans.
Sophie	Look! The magistrates themselves brought Paul and Silas out of jail. Now the magistrates are begging them politely to leave the city.
Jailer	Neither our authorities nor Satan will stop Christ’s servants.
Prompter & Echoes	Salvation for all who believe!