Observations of the Philippian Jailer

  Acts 16.16-24 / 25-34

16-24:  The demon possessed girl sought to sensationalize Paul & Co’s. ministry.  The whole affair may have actually spread the word about the message of Christ and salvation through Him.  Paul “exorcised” the demon because of its annoyance.

Why were only Paul and Silas imprisoned--probably some anti-Semitism going on here, though they also were the leaders of the group?  Timothy was half Greek, and Luke was a gentile.

25-34: While Paul and Silas were in pain and imprisoned, their feet in stocks, they prayed and sung hymns.  Everyone was listening—a captive audience.

The timing of the earthquake and the opening of the doors and loosing of everyone’s chains made this an obvious Divine event, and gave authentication to their witness.  This was why no one escaped.

1)    The jailer was going to kill himself.  Under Roman law, a guard who allowed his prisoner to escape was liable to the same penalty the prisoner would have suffered (Code of Justinian 9.4.4).  When peter escaped prison in Acts 12.19, all the guards were put to death.  This may be why the soldiers wanted to kill all the prisoners on the ship Paul was on heading for Rome, when the shipwrecked, Acts 27.42.

The jailer feared man more than God at that moment.  What he knew about God did not stop him from trying to commit suicide.  One moment he was going to kill himself, the next moment he asks how to be saved.

2)    Paul’s concern for the jailer saved both his life and his soul.  How did Paul know?

Paul’s words stopped the suicide.  All that transpired impact this man’s conscience, and the fear of God took over.   Can we have such sensitivity and obedience to God as Paul?

3)  The jailer knew enough to ask the most important question in life.  Acts 16:30:  “What must I do to be saved?”  What was he asking?   The fear of God is fear of Divine judgment/ accountability.  Luke 13.22-28 “Are there few who will be saved?” 

Salvation is from God’s judgment/ wrath:  1 Thes 5.9  

4)    Acts 16.31:  The answer to the question—the clincher—I call it:  “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.”

Christ died for all, so why are not all saved--because not all believe in Christ alone for salvation?  This is the final piece of information one must know and believe.   God saves those who believe in Jesus Christ for salvation from sin.

5)  Acts 16.32:  Faith is assurance, conviction in the Word of God, particularly here about Christ.  Paul & Co spoke the word of God to the jailer and his family so that they could understand and believe the “clincher” truth.

 6)  The reception by the Jailer & family to the word is seen in their treatment of Paul and Silas, their water baptism, and their rejoicing.

We need to be abiding in the word of God and sensitive to the situations we are in so that we can be ready to impact people like Paul did with the jailer.  Paul’s words “do yourself no harm” change this man’s eternal destiny around.