“But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”
Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:16-34) Paul and Silas had been preaching Jesus Christ and now come into the city of Philippi. Lydia has accepted Christ and God was blessing. Well, the devil is always lurking about. Wherever you find the Christian witnessing you will find the devil lurking and lying. It is no different today. It has not changed since the Early Church.
There is always one, a group or more who find it their calling to mock Christians and accuse them falsely of “troubling our city” with the Gospel. Amen! Praise the Lord! We need to be found in love “troubling our city” as we live our Christian life preaching the Gospel.
Paul and Silas were found guilty of preaching Jesus Christ by Satan’s jury. Paul cast a demon out of a girl and this upset the businessmen. A riot broke out with the multitude and Paul and Silas were beaten with rods and thrown into prison. The jailer was told to secure them. “He put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks” (v.22-24).
We think we have had a hard day we don’t know the meaning of persecution. We see that God had a plan and he gave Paul and Silas another opportunity to preach the Gospel and glorify Him.
The devil is always starting things he can’t finish. When God’s people are available, faithful and looking for the opportunity to witness, God will shake the foundations, open the door, loose the chains and save souls. God is glorified!
Beaten, placed in the inner prison with feet in stocks, they didn’t sit there and grumble, cry or start a riot. They accepted their circumstances and looked for the opportunity to witness. They worshiped God, prayed, and sang hymns of praise.
What do we do when we find ourselves in uncomfortable and painful circumstances? Do we pray, and sing praises to God? Do we ask…why me?
At midnight, as they sat with blood on their bodies and feet in shackles unable to move, singing, praying and all of a sudden God…who is in control, sent an earthquake that shook the foundations of the prison, opened the doors, loosed the chains. That is what prayer and praise will do!
The jailer feared for his life because the prisoners were free to leave. Paul said: ”Do yourself no harm, we are all here.” The jailer realized that the God of Paul and Silas was real and powerful and he cried out, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They told him to “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” Paul didn’t tell him to be baptized, join the church or keep the Law, but to “Believe on Jesus!” Salvation comes through Jesus Christ, the One and Only who gave His own blood for all. Are you a true Believer?
Not only did the jailer accept Christ, but all believed. A family saved and they have eternal life! Is your family saved? I bet Paul felt all was worth it. He was more concerned for souls than for better circumstances.
There were “chains” on the jailer that he wasn’t aware of…he was chained to the devil and God removed that chain and saved him. What a miracle!
There are many who are still chained to the devil and we must take the Gospel to them. Satan is leading them down the broad way into a prison cell of eternal damnation. We must tell them! We serve the same God that Paul served.
Are you a faithful and obedient Christian? Do you look for an opportunity or complain about your circumstances? Decide to glorify God… Get up and witness of all He has done.
Look for the “open door” of opportunity to tell others about His love and how to be saved.
