TOPIC:“The Jailor Who was Converted”
by Rev. Dr. Reg Dunlap
TEXT:Acts 16:25-31
“Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” (16:30, 31)
After Paul and Silas were severely beaten for preaching the Gospel in the European city of Philippi, they were put under the custody of a Philippian jailor. His personal name is not given. But his strict orders were to make certain that these two missionaries did not escape from prison. So he put both Paul and Silas in the innermost dungeon where he had their legs fastened in the stocks.
With their legs stretched wide apart causing severe pain and excruciating discomfort, and unable to sleep under these conditions, we find Paul and Silas doing something almost unbelievable. Around midnight we find them praying and singing hymns to God. And such worshipping and praising God was a continuous activity during that evening. Now it was under these circumstances that this retired soldier asked the most important question of his life. It was a question that would determine his eternal destiny. The question he asked Paul and Silas is found in verse 30: "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
With that background in mind, I want us to think of the faith this desperate jailor exhibited in order to be saved.
I.
Let us begin with this: This Philippian jailor had the faith of an awakened soul. Consider the words that come before our text in verse 27: “And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep” (Acts 16:27).
Now what was it that awakened him out of a sound sleep? The answer is found in the words of verse 26: “And suddenly there was a great earthquake.” Now if there is anything which can awaken you out of a sound sleep it is an earthquake. The Philippian jailer was stirred and shocked by the dramatic suddenness in which it came. Without warning, it shook the prison to its very foundation, unlocking every door and unfastening every prisoner. Immediately he ran to investigate what had happened. We read about it in the middle of verse 27: “And seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself.”
We will never catch the profound meaning of these words until we understand this one thing. Under Roman law, this Philippian jailer was liable to suffer the punishment that these prisoners were supposed to suffer if they escaped. Realizing his fate, not knowing that the prisoners had not escaped, and seeking to avoid death by disgrace, the Philippian jailer was willing to commit suicide by driving his short dagger . . .