The jailor called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked: "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They replied: "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved - you and your household."
Great fear
- Who was it who called for lights?
The Philippian jailor
- Who were in his charge?
Paul and Silas
- Why had Paul and Silas been put in prison?
Because they had angered some slave owners
- Why were they angry?
Because Paul and Silas had healed a slave girl from a spirit fortune telling.
- What did Paul and Silas do when they were in prison?
They were praying and singing hymns to God
- What extraordinary thing happened at mid-night?
There was an earthquake, the prison doors flung open and their chains fell off.
- What happened to the jailor?
When he woke up, he saw the prison opened, and thought the prisoners had escaped
- What did he attempt to do?
He attempted to kill himself.
- Who stopped him from committing suicide?
Paul stopped him by saying: "We are all here"
- How do we know the jailor was still afraid?
He fell at the apostles feet "trembling"
- What was it that made the jailor so afraid?
He felt that he was in the presence of divine power.
A great Question
- What question did the jailor put to Paul and Silas?
"Sirs, what must I do to be saved"
- What does this question indicate?
The jailor knew he was in need of salvation.
- What does "saved" mean?
Being delivered from the power and penalty of sin.
- With whom has the gospel message power?
Only with those who are seeking deliverance.
A great Answer
- What answer did Paul and Silas give?
"Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved - you and your household."
- What is it "to believe"?
Put your trust in.
- What is meant with "Believe in"?
To rely on the Lord and on what He has done for us.
- What would result from believing?
The jailor would be saved and his household.
- How many conditions are there to be saved?
Only one: Believe.
- Is there anything else the jailor needed to do in order to be saved?
No - believe was all he could and we can do in order to be saved.
Text Thirteen
Adapted from:
"The one hundred texts of the society for Irish Church Missions."
T.C. Hammond, Dublin. 1939