Universal Utterings
for May 12, 2026
A Godcast
UniversalUtterings.Com
05-12-2026 Acts 16 V1624 They Threw Them Into Prison
The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 16 Verse 16 thru 24
16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl with an oracular spirit, who used to bring a large profit to her owners through her fortune-telling. 17 She began to follow Paul and us, shouting, “These people are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation.” 18 She did this for many days. Paul became annoyed, turned, and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” Then it came out at that moment. 19 When her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the public square before the local authorities. 20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These people are Jews and are disturbing our city 21 and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us Romans to adopt or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in the attack on them, and the magistrates had them stripped and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 23 After inflicting many blows on them, they threw them into prison and instructed the jailer to guard them securely. 24 When he received these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and secured their feet to a stake.
In Acts 16:16-24, we encounter the story of Paul and his companions as they journey through Philippi. They encounter a slave girl possessed by a spirit of divination who earns a significant profit for her owners by fortune-telling. Despite her proclamations about Paul and his message, Paul becomes troubled and commands the spirit to leave her. This act leads to her liberation but also results in Paul and Silas being imprisoned, showcasing the repercussions of confronting evil practices.
The Church’s position on fortune tellers and psychics is rooted in the understanding that such practices can be deeply harmful. They draw individuals away from faith in God and foster dependence on falsehoods and demonic influences. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explicitly warns against divination, emphasizing that these practices contradict the first commandment and can lead to spiritual danger (CCC 2116).
However, the Church also upholds the inherent dignity and potential for conversion in every individual. Just as Paul sought the liberation of the slave girl, the Church calls upon its members to pray for the conversion of those ensnared by these practices. Rather than judging or condemning, Christians are encouraged to approach such individuals with compassion and a prayerful disposition, asking God to reveal His truth to them.
In our daily lives, encountering psychics and fortune tellers can serve as an opportunity for evangelization. By offering healing prayers and sharing the transformative power of Christ, we align ourselves with Paul’s example. Our mission is not only to stand against the darkness but to illuminate the way towards truth, inviting all into the embrace of God’s love. As we pray for their transformation, we emulate Christ’s compassion, reminding ourselves and others of the profound grace available to all. Amen.
Join me as we pray our daily prayer of forgiveness. The Lord’s Prayer.
At the Savior’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever.
I am sorry Lord. I believe You died and rose for me. Please forgive me as I forgive others. I share You as my Lord and Savior seeking to live your Will in all things. Prayers for wife Toni and my mother Betty pray for our children especially our two oldest Alexandra & Allen Son in Law Mark Stern; Julian, Gabriel and Jeffrey and our grandchildren Oliver, Julian and Elliott. We pray for those we’ve said we’d pray for and those who’ve asked us to pray for them. We pray for the dying as we do each day Lord give them peace in their last breath. We pray for Holy Mother Church. Our prayers for our niece Brittany. In Jesus Precious Blood by His Name we pray. Amen.
I am a poet obedient to Christ,
Catholic Evangelist Thomas Cruz†Wiggins
†Spirit led God inspired Christ fed†®
Ephesians 6:17-20
05-12-2026 Acts 16 V1624
**They Threw Them Into Prison**
In a city where shadows danced and played,
There lived a girl, by spirits betrayed.
With a fortune-teller’s gift, she roamed the streets,
Her haunting cries echoing in rhythmic beats.
“Behold these men, servants of the light!”
She proclaimed with a voice both shrill and bright.
But Paul, with a heart burdened by grace,
Turned to the spirit, confronting its face.
“Out of her now!” his command rang clear,
And instantly, freedom replaced her fear.
Yet her masters, enraged by the fortune telling loss,
Pulled Paul and Silas, their anger embossed.
“To the magistrates!” they cried in dismay,
“This man and his friend have led us astray!”
Fabricated tales, they weaved in the air,
Labels of chaos, injustice laid bare.
With fists raised high, in the judge’s domain,
The crowd turned on Paul, igniting a flame.
Stripped of their rights, beaten and thrown,
Into chains and darkness, their souls felt alone.
Yet in the depths of that prison’s embrace,
The spirit of God filled their hearts with grace.
For though they were bound, their voices rose high,
In songs of praises that soared to the sky.
In Acts of faith, when storms start to swell,
Remember the story of Paul and Silas in hell.
For freedom in Christ can break every chain,
And even in prisons, His love will remain. Amen.
© Thomas Joe Cruz†Wiggins
May 12, 2026 @ 05:59 AM EST
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**† God First Ministries, Inc. is a Roman Catholic Lay Ministry not sponsored by The Church but is accepted by the IRS as a Religious Charitable Org. and is exempt from Federal Income Tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations made through PayPal using GodFirstforJesus@gmail.com, or given to GFM are tax deductible. †**
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