by Gerilyn Gordon and Suzanne Hadley

My heart raced as my feet sent dust from the dry road up in little clouds.

“I'm free,” I yelled bursting through the door of the shop.

My master Appius furrowed his brow. His brother, Decimus, raised an eyebrow.

Gasping for breath, I explained, “Paul and Silas cast the spirit out. I'm free!”

My masters exchanged glances.

“What happened?” Appius demanded.

“Paul told the demon to come out in the name of Jesus Christ. The moment he spoke the words, I felt the spirit leave.”

“Nonsense!” Decimus said. “Hurry now. Your first customer arrives any minute.”

I took my regular seat. For many years I had predicted the futures of important officials and wealthy men in the city. My masters made a good living off my abilities. But today was different. I stared blankly at the pale man before me. I saw his wobbly double chin and the saliva that clung to the corners of his mouth, but I could not see his future.

“I'm sorry,” I said, looking down, “I cannot help you.” But I was not sorry; the evil spirit that had tormented me was gone. I couldn't have been happier.

The man rose clumsily and stormed out of the shop hurling angry words at my masters.

Appius and Decimus rushed in. “What is wrong with you?” Appius shook my shoulders.

“I told you,” I said. “The spirit is gone. I can no longer see into the future.”

“Troublemakers!” Decimus growled. “Paul and Silas had no right to interfere with our business.”

Appius and Decimus gathered a mob and rounded up Paul and Silas. They dragged them before city officials.

“These men are throwing our city into an uproar!” Appius testified. “They are doing things that go against Roman law.”

The crowd thundered in agreement.

The officials ordered that Paul and Silas be stripped and beaten. I watched, horrified, as the guards beat the men who had saved me and dragged them away. I followed.

“Guard these men carefully,” a guard warned the jailer. “You will pay with your life if they escape.”

“I will put them in the inner cell and secure the stocks myself,” the jailer said. He led the two bloodied men inside, shutting the heavy iron gate behind him.

I leaned against the cold stone of the outer wall and slid to the ground. I wanted to help, but there was nothing I could do. Exhausted, I drifted off to sleep.

I awoke to the sound of singing. Two voices echoed from the stone interior of the prison. Paul and Silas! They sang hymns of praise to God. I wondered how they could worship God in a cold, smelly prison.

Suddenly, the earth shook. I covered my head as the ground rolled beneath me. I had never felt such a powerful earthquake.

When the shaking stopped, I lifted my head. I watched the jailer stumble out the door and frantically look around.

The prisoners escaped! I thought.

The jailer pulled his sword from his sheath and pointed it toward his body. I covered my eyes.

“Don't harm yourself!” Paul's voice echoed from inside the prison. “We are all here.” “Believe in the Lord Jesus,” Paul said, “and you will be saved-you and your household.”

The jailer led Paul and Silas to his home as I trailed behind. I peeked through a window. The jailer cleaned the men's wounds while his wife served them a meal. Paul told the jailer's family about Jesus, the risen Lord, who had died so their sins could be forgiven. The entire family was baptized and believed in Jesus as Savior.

I smiled, watching the joy on each face. God knew their future, I thought. He knew that the jailer and his family would come to know Him and be saved.

I turned to go home. God knew my future, too.

	Q: What do you get when an antelope and a caribou collide? A: A cantaloupe. Jacy and Joe C., 8 and 6, North Carolina Clubhouse Jr. Click here to subscribe