Thoughts on Discipleship by Dr. W. A. Dillard - HTML preview

WHAT DID THE PHILIPPIAN JAILER DO THAT WAS SO RIGHT?

Acts Chapter Sixteen records one of the most intriguing stories of the Bible. It contains

the direct question about personal salvation and the apostolic answer to that question.

Paul and Silas were in the city of Philippi, a Roman colony. They had done nothing wrong, but because they had cast a demon out of a woman who was constantly annoying them, they were beaten and cast into prison.

At midnight, they sang hymns and praised the Lord. It was then that a great earthquake occurred which shook the foundations of the prison and caused every man’s bands to be loosed and the doors open. The jailor who had been fast asleep awoke and seeing the doors open drew out his sword to fall upon it, supposing the prisoners to be fled. It would be more honorable to him to do this than to know the shame of failure and certain execution anyway. It was then that Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do thyself no harm, we are all here.” That the prisoners had not fled was unthinkable. Couple that with the fact that Paul and Silas were most unusual men who did not bitterly complain of their treatment, but praised the Lord in all things, and you have the unmistakable testimony of men who know God.

Realizing that this event was an act of God, and knowing his own undone condition before the righteous, creator God of the universe, the jailor called for a light and came into the cell of Paul and fell down crying, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Whereupon Paul replied, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house.” That is exactly what the jailor did. Afterward he brought God’s men into his own home and cared for them. There was joy as never before experienced in the jailor’s heart and in his house. Salvation had come through their repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. That is so right!

The centuries, yea, millenniums have come and gone, but the actions of the Philippian jailor are as right today as they were back then. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. God will then use your salvation to influence your house to be saved. This is so right!

FOR THOUGHT: Why do you think Paul and Silas could sing praise songs after having been beaten and imprisoned? Do you think many would have such grace today? Do you agree with the advice they gave the Philippian jailor about how to be saved? Have you come to such terms with Christ?