Read Part One HERE
A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS
PART XVI - VII
"Have you ever experienced an earthquake?.... I, the jailer of the prison in Philippi experienced one last night... It woke me up in the middle of the night.... I had run as fast as I could to the prison to check on all my prisoners... I dreaded what I might find: empty prison cells... It was true that all the cell doors were open.... But when I looked into each cell all the prisoners were still inside... Just as the prisoner Paul had told me... What a miracle!!... And that right here in the prison!!...Could God be here even in this dark prison?... It must be so.... And it must be because of these two new prisoners, Paul and Silas.... But I had treated them so carelessly last night....I knew they had bruises on their bodies... But I had not treated them... Is there anything I can do for them even now?.... I know.... I will take them back to my home.... So I can wash their wounds... And I will ask them at the same time if they can teach my family about this God they seem to know so well....Perhaps we can get to know Him too."....Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of the prisoner's conversion....
ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS
PART XVI - VII
The jailer of the prison in Philippi decided to check out if none of the prisoners had escaped after the earthquake so he looked in every cell and indeed all the prisoners were still there. Morover, each one of them looked so peaceful. And the atmosphere in the prison had become so peaceful. This must be because of the two new prisoners of last night. He remembered that he had treated them very roughly. Would it be possible for him to make some amends? Yes, he knew just what to do: He would take them to his home and wash the wounds they had received when they had been flogged the day before.So he took them to his home and he gently washed their wounds and put ointment on them. And he then asked if they would share the message with him and his household that they had been preaching when they had been in the city every day. Of course, Paul and Silas gladly did so.
So they had the jailer and his family sit down. And they then began to share the wonderful news hat God knew them, that God loved them and that He loved them so much that He had sent His Son to die for them on the Cross as you can read in Acta 16:29-33
The jailer 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." Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his housewhold were baptised.
So that day the jailer and his family received forgiveness of their sins and became followers of the Lord Jesus as you can read in Acts 16:34
The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God - he and his whole household.
The Holy Spirit had led Paul to Philippi knowing full well that it would mean imprisonment for him and Silas. However, He knew too that it would mean the jailer and his family would hear the truth about Jesus. Just as the Holy Spirit allowd Paul and Silas to suffer so that a jailer and his family would hear the gospel, He may allow us to go through difficulties and hardships in order that we may have an opportunity to share the gospel with others. The question is: are we willing to go through hardships and difficulties in order for others to have an opportunity to hear the Good news of Jesus Christ or do we rather play it safe?
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