Acts 16:25

“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, When others were asleep, and all things were still and quiet; (see Gill on “<19B962>Psalm 119:62”), and they prayed doubtless for themselves, for their deliverance in God’s time and way, and for support under their present afflictions; and for supplies of grace, to enable them to bear with patience and cheerfulness, until an issue was put to them; and for their enemies, and, particularly it may be for the jailer, who had used them so ill; and for the churches of Christ, for all the saints, and for the spread and success of the Gospel: and sang praises unto God; or “sang an hymn to God”, very likely one of David’s psalms, or hymns: for the book of Psalms…”

“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises--literally, "praying, were singing praises"; that is, while engaged in pouring out their hearts in prayer, had broken forth into singing, and were hymning loud their joy. As the word here employed is that used to denote the Paschal hymn sung by our Lord and His disciples after their last Passover (Mat 26:30), and which we know to have consisted of Psa. 113:1-118:29, which was chanted at that festival, it is probable that it was portions of the Psalms, so rich in such matter, which our joyous sufferers chanted forth; nor could any be more seasonable and inspiring to them than those very six Psalms, which every devout Jew would no doubt…”

“And at midnight - Probably their painful posture, and the sufferings of their recent scourging, prevented their. sleeping. Yet, though they had no repose, they had a quiet conscience, and the supports of religion. Prayed - Though they had suffered much, yet they had reason to apprehend more. They sought, therefore, the sustaining grace of God. And sang praises - Compare the notes on Job 35:10. Nothing but religion would have enabled them to do this. They had endured much, but they had cause still for gratitude. The Christian may find more true joy in a prison than the monarch on his throne. And the prisoners heard them - And doubtless with astonishment. Prayer and praise are not common in a…”

“Paul and Silas sung a hymn to God - Notwithstanding weariness, hunger stripes, and blood. And the prisoners heard - A song to which they were not accustomed. Acts 16:28”

“16:25 Paul and Silas, like the persecuted apostles in Jerusalem, were joyful, “rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus” (5:41).”

“at midnight: Job 35:10; Psa 22:2, Psa 42:8, Psa 77:6, Psa 119:55, Psa 119:62; Isa 30:29 prayed: Psa 50:15, Psa 77:2, Psa 91:15; Mat 26:38, Mat 26:39; Luk 22:44; Heb 5:7; Jam 5:13 sang: Act 5:41; Psa 34:1; Mat 5:10, Mat 5:11; Luk 6:22, Luk 6:23; Rom 5:3, Rom 12:12; Co2 4:8, Co2 4:9, Co2 4:16; Co2 4:17, Co2 6:10; Phi 2:17, Phi 4:4-7; Col 1:24, Col 3:15-17; Th1 5:16-18; Jam 1:2; Pe1 1:6-8, Pe1 4:14 and the: Ezr 3:12, Ezr 3:13; Psa 71:7; Zac 3:8 Acts 16:26”