Acts 16:16-34
It is believed that the jailers in the days of Paul’s ministry were often culled from retired Roman soldiers. We know more about these well trained, warring, Crucifixion hardened soldiers than we do about the jailers of a Roman prison, but if we consider the reassigning of retired soldiers to do the job of jailer we can see the idea is worthy. Jailers were well aware they were to guard their prisoners with their life!
Jailers were commandeered to a variety of prisons , the worst being the dark, dank dangeons, and this is where Paul and Silas found themselves after a confrontation in Philippi, a Roman colony. Paul and Silas had been headed to a place of prayer when a certain slave girl showed up and kept speaking up. Her masters made much profit from her fortune telling. She was possessed by a demon, a spirit of divination, (puthon in Greek, a python). Paul had the audacity, according to the handlers, to demand the demon come out of her in the powerful name of Jesus. Of course the demon responded at once and that ended the money making scenario for her masters. They seized Paul and Silas, dragged them to the Magistates, and accused them of being Jews, throwing the city into confusion, and breaking Roman law. (At this time the Roman Emperor had thrown all Jews out of Rome! Although Timothy and Luke were with Paul and Silas, Timothy was only half Jewish and Luke was a Gentile)
After the accusations the crowds rose up against them, their robes were torn off them, and the order was given to beat them with rods. In the Roman realm there was no limit to the number of blows and Scripture reports they received many. Prisoners often died.
Bruised and bleeding Paul and Silas were literally thrown into the dungeon and the jailer was commanded to guard them securely. And of course he would knowing his life was on the line! The jailer threw them into the inner prison, a place with no ventilation, no light, below ground foul and damp, and for added security their feet were fastened in stocks, an instrument of torture from which no one escaped.
The First Miracle
These scourged, suffering, beaten and exhausted men anticipating worse to come poured their hearts out, and in the dark came forth from them the light of Christ. The vaults that normally echoed with wild curses and painful cries now were filled with melodic prayers and praises to God. Songs never heard in a prison before. “And the prisoners were listening to them.” Acts 16:25
The Second Miracle
The hand of God moves in a mighty way and suddenly there came a great earthquake. “The very foundations of the prison were shaken” v26 (and perhaps the spiritual foundations of the imprisoned), “and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened”. Prisoners set free, and an opportunity for their souls to be set free as well!
The Third Miracle
The jailer had been roused and seeing prison doors all open assumed his prisoners had escaped. Rather than face punishment and death from the Romans, he drew his sword to kill himself, but Paul cried out in a loud voice, “Do yourself no harm for we are all here!” v 28
The jailer trembling with fear fell down before Paul and Silas, and after he had brought them out said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” V 30 The sword of death had been in the hands of the jailer, and now Paul and Silas bring out the Sword of the Word of God. Hebrews 4:12 “For the Word of God is living and active and shaper than any two edged sword…”. Paul and Silas said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household”. They spoke the Word to the jailer and all who were in his house and that very night they rejoiced greatly having believed in God and been baptized.
What Must I Do To Be Saved?
Romans 10:9 “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
John 14:6 “ Jesus said, “I am the way the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
Ephesians 2:8 “ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God.”
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
The most marvelous miracle of salvation was freely given as a gift that day to those who believed in a Saviour. Lives were forever changed. Eternity promised. What must I do to be saved? The Lord Jesus will answer that for you with the free gift of salvation when you make the most important decision of your life and believe in Him! Out of the prison of death into the glory of new life of freedom in Christ.
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