Scripture Verse

The multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison. Acts 16:22–23

Introduction

portrait
Philip P. Bliss (1838–1876)

Words: Phi­lip P. Bliss, in Wel­come Tid­ings, by Ro­bert Low­ry et al. (New York: Big­low & Main, 1877), num­ber 106.

Music: Cau­mar­tin Da­ni­el B. Tow­ner (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Daniel B. Towner (1850–1919)

Lyrics

Night had fallen on the city,
And the streets at last were still,
Where the noisy throng the day-long,
Did the air with shoutings fill.
And the weary wayworn travelers
Preaching Je­sus thro’ the land,
Were in deepest dungeon darkness,
At the magistrates’ command.

Many stripes to them were given
Many curses on them cast;
Many bolts and bars surround them,
In the stocks their feet were fast.
While the trusty Roman jailer,
All securely slumbering on,
Little dreamed the mighty wonder
Of the morrow’s early dawn.

Hark the sighing of the prisoners,
Hear their moanings loud and long;
No, again, and louder, clearer,
’Tis the voice of prayer and song.
See, the prison walls are shaking,
And the door wide open stands;
Lo, the earth, the earth is quaking,
Loosed are every prisoner’s bands.

Oh, there’s not a cell so lonely,
But a song may echo there;
Oh, there’s not a night so cheerless,
But there’s potency in prayer.
Sing, oh sing, thou weary pilgrim,
Song will bring thee heav’nly peace,
Pray, oh pray, thou burdened prisoner,
God will give thee sweet release.