David Bahn – Reflections

Acts 16:25-40

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediatelyall the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs,what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took themthe same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” 36 And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” 37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.” 38 The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens.39 So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. 40 So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.

Previously, when Peter had been imprisoned, God sent an an angel to release him. The escape was so remarkable that those who had been praying for him didn’t even believe at first he was free – though he was standing outside their door (Acts 12:6-19). On this occasion, however, an earthquake  causes the doors to open and bonds to be unfastened. In the case of the previous escape of Peter, the jailers were killed. So naturally when the Philippian jailer sees the doors open he was ready to take his own life – believing that would be less traumatic than answering to his superiors and enduring the grave terror of death at their hands.

This time, however, the prisoners are all present and accounted for. Paul intervenes and tells the jailer not to take his own life. For some reason he had stayed and convinced the others also to stay in prison rather than try to escape. I’m inclined to believe that Paul knew what had happened to the jailers in the case of Peter’s escape, had considered that a relatively innocent man would lose his life if they escaped, and had determined that there was a greater opportunity for the sake of the gospel if they stayed, rather than escaping. Paul would leverage any opportunity to call people to repent and believe.

On this occasion the Philippian jailer and his family would be the first to be saved. He and all his family were baptized, and great joy came into their lives. But, as they say on the TV commercials, “Wait…there’s more!” In this case Paul will make a point of their unjust treatment and demand an apology and a personal escort out of the prison. This is not the only time Paul will use his Roman citizenship for the sake of his Gospel mission. But more important than using his citizenship, he uses an act of humility and kindness to advance the Gospel message.

Working faith in the hearts of others is the work of the Holy Spirit. No one can cause another to believe – no matter how kind or perfectly he or she may share the Good News of Jesus or witness to his work in their life. But God does use people’s acts of kindness, sacrifice, and faithfulness to advance his Kingdom. God uses people to reach people with the Gospel message.

It’s not likely that you or I will be put into prison for preaching Christ (Lord, have mercy on American Pastor Saeed Abedini who is imprisoned in Iran!). But there may be times when we go the extra mile or give greater grace to others as testimony to the goodness and grace of God. Who knows how God might use that for the sake of the Gospel. Certainly, if we have such an opportunity we would delight be a part of his work in the life of another. That might even make a difference in how we view our personal injustices and difficulties.