The multitude rose up against Paul and Silas and the magistrates tore off their clothes and beat them.  Again, when we are doing God's will, we will face opposition from the world.  We sometimes hear people talk in church about what they will never be stopped from doing for God, but then out in the world they are silent.  If our faith is strong enough, we won't just talk among ourselves about how firmly we will stand for God.  We  will proclaim it to the lost world, even if it costs us.  Paul and Silas were beaten with many stripes and thrown into prison.  The jailor was charged with ensuring they didn't escape, so he placed them in the inner prison and put their feet in stocks.  Maybe if we endure these things, we can write like Paul.  Then, at midnight, Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises, and the prisoners heard them.  They were doing what God wanted them to do where God wanted them to do it, and were beaten and thrown in prison.  That hardly says that being obedient to God means we are going to be happy and prosperous and that God doesn't want us to suffer and be unhappy.  We have at times so watered down the gospel that if the pew is too uncomfortable we look for a church where they are more comfortable.  If we were beaten and thrown into prison, would we be praying and singing praises to God at midnight?  Do we even sing praises to God if we can't find a parking spot?  When we cannot rejoice in the Lord during small annoyances, we will never stand firm if real trials come.