Salvation Shakes the Prison

Acts 16:26-27 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.
 
VIOLENCE had assaulted God’s servants. It was time for the Lord’s justice in Philippi. But God did not shake the jail that night to condemn. He came to save.
 
Acts 16:28-29 But Paul shouted, “Don't harm yourself! We are all here!” 29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.
 
Paul had demonstrated God’s power when he removed an evil spirit from a slave girl. The people angrily responded because they did not fear God’s power. The jailer is different.
   The jailer felt the earthquake – a natural occurrence – and he saw the prison doors opened. This, too, could be a result of the violent earthquake. But then he saw something very unnatural. All the prisoners were free of their chains, but they all remained in prison! The jailer’s life was on the line. Unlike the unruly mob, the jailer became afraid. A fear of an unknown power grew inside of him. He understood the God to whom Paul and Silas sang was the reason for the earthquake, the open doors, the loose chains and the prisoners remaining. The Holy Spirit opened this desperate man’s heart. He knew God’s righteous judgment confronted him. He needed help.
   What would save him from death? What would save his soul? Apparently he had heard of Paul’s and Silas’ work in Philippi. He heard their songs and witnessed their faith amid their suffering. He then asked the question every Christian wants to hear. V. 30 “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
   Paul and Silas, of course, could only give one answer, one that changed the jailer’s life: v 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household.” Paul and Silas continued to teach the gospel: V 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.
   The jailer became captive to Christ. He cared for Silas and Paul. V. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds. In response to the jailer’s and his family’s faith, v. 33 he and all his family were baptized. They were born again. God’s violent intrusion into the jail had judged the family into eternal salvation. It is likely the Spirit saved many other prisoners who had witnessed God’s grace.
   Joy filled the new children of God. V 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God – he and his whole family. The rescued man cared for the good news messengers.
 
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7)