📖 Biblical Definition
The middle of the night; in Scripture, an hour of decisive divine action. At midnight the firstborn of Egypt died, freeing Israel (Ex 12:29); at midnight Paul and Silas sang in the Philippian jail and the earthquake came (Acts 16:25); at midnight the cry comes in Christ's parable: Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him (Matt 25:6). Midnight in Scripture is when God moves while the world is asleep.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
MID'NIGHT, n.
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1. The middle of the night; twelve o'clock at night. 2. The time of greatest darkness or distress.
📖 Key Scripture
Exodus 12:29 — "It came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt."
Acts 16:25 — "At midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God."
Matthew 25:6 — "At midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him."
Psalm 119:62 — "At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity sleeps through midnight; God's most decisive moves often arrive at it.
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Acts 16:25 is the patron verse of midnight worship. Paul and Silas, beaten and shackled in the inner prison, did not curse, complain, or sleep. They prayed and sang. The other prisoners listened. At midnight the earthquake came; the doors flew open; the chains fell off; the jailer was saved. Worship-from-the-dungeon at midnight is one of the most powerful weapons in the Christian arsenal.
Christ's parable in Matthew 25 also lands at midnight: at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh. The wise virgins had oil; the foolish did not. The Bridegroom comes when the world is asleep. Modern Christianity often sleeps through midnight, expecting the kingdom to arrive at convenient business hours. Wake at midnight. Sing in the cell. Trim the lamp. The Bridegroom is on schedule.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew chatsi ha-laylah; Greek mesonuktion (G3317).
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Usage
"Modern Christianity sleeps through midnight; God's most decisive moves often arrive at it."
"Worship-from-the-dungeon at midnight is one of the most powerful weapons in the Christian arsenal."
"Wake at midnight. Sing in the cell. Trim the lamp. The Bridegroom is on schedule."