Acts chapter 16 v 27-34

Acts chapter 16 v 27-34:

V27:  Waking, finding the prison in ruins, the jailer panics, sure his prisoners must have escaped, and he will be held to account ( See v23 above.) so he is about to take his own life, rather than wait for the cruel judgement of Rome, which would probably involve torture.

V28:  But a voice rings out in the prison he thought deserted, Paul in concern for this man’s soul, telling him not to harm himself – for ALL the prisoners are still there. This seems amazing – the rest are probably criminals of various kinds – but we look back to v25 – this testimony, and presumably words from Paul after the earthquake, have prevailed upon them not to flee. God can do  more than we would ever anticipate through a faithful testimony!

V29-30: Trembling with fear, the jailer comes to Paul and Silas, goes down on his knees before them, and asks how he can be saved! Perhaps he knows something of Paul’s preaching in Philippi, but only a work of God’s grace can explain this response.

V31: What a clear answer he gets. Salvation is by faith in Jesus alone, Jesus who is Lord and Saviour, as His very Name declares (Matthew 1 v 21.) The promise is for his household too – not that they will be saved by his faith, but if they themselves believe.

V32:  So,they declare the gospel to all his household. (Family? Servants?) Clearly, all must be of an age to understand and believe!

V 33: God’s grace opens all their hearts to believe, and upon that profession of faith they are baptised. ( No details are given of where or indeed when ) First, the jailer washes the wounds of the men he had previously ” punished “, but who have brought the Gospel to him and his house.

V34:  He brings them food, and he and all in his household are full of Gospel joy. How wonderfully God’s grace has worked in Philippi. May we see the same grace at work in our day, to God’s glory.