About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. 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. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 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.
Comment: The story thrills and puzzles me. We’re told that the guards were asleep. They woke up to see all the doors open and incorrectly presumed that prisoners had escaped. Why hadn’t they? We know that there were others, besides Paul and Silas, for they listened to the singing! Maybe they were so amazed and shocked. Knowing Roman rules the jailer about to kill himself isn’t surprising – a quick suicide preferred to terrible punishment and then death. The incident releasing Silas and Paul (were the other prisoners also freed?) and the behaviour of Paul and Silas brought him to the feet of the two and, possibly from earlier in the evening having heard their preaching (assumed) and singing, desired to be saved. The end bit ‘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.’ doesn’t surprise me, for he when he saw the doors open he feared greatly, and getting right with God is releasing!
Prayer: If my life is in a rut please do something to catch my attention. When You do it, help me to realize it!
As I read it! 