CONVERSION OF THE JAILER
Acts 16:16-34
By David J. Riggs
Intro.
A. Paul and the others with him had received the Macedonian call.
Acts 16:9-10
B. The first converts in Macedonia were Lydia and her household.
Acts 16:13-15
C. In the latter part of Acts 16, the conversion of the jailer and
his household is recorded.
1. Let us examine this conversion closely so that we might
profit from it.
II. Acts 16:16-18
A. This young slave girl was help in double bondage - by demons
and by her masters. Vs. 16
1. Her masters were using her to make money.
B. In verse 17 she testified truthfully.
1. Others possessed with demons testified good regarding
Jesus. Mark 5:6-7
C. Why did Paul reject her cooperation?
1. It would have placed demons and the apostles in alliance.
2. Jesus, likewise, did not accept the testimony of demons.
Mark 1:23-26
D. Paul, in the name of Christ, commands the evil spirit come out
of her. Vs. 18
1. Thus, Paul quickly put out of business those evil men who
had control of this young girl.
III. Acts 16:19-24
A. Not only were these men greedy, but they were liars as well.
1. Paul and the others had not taught customs which were
unlawful for the Romans to observe. Vs. 19-20
2. Many teachers of the gospel have likewise suffered unjustly
since the time of Christ.
B. In the name of patriotism, it is easy to incite a riot.
1. Justice was disregarded here.
2. They were not given opportunity to defend themselves.
3. It was true that these men were Jews, but the fact they were
also Romans was ignored.
C. They were severely beaten with rods. Vs. 22
1. The Jews could not exceed a certain number of stripes
(Deut. 25:3), but the Romans had no such law.
a. Often they would beat one until they thought he was
almost dead.
2. These teachers of gospel were so treated by the ones they
came to bless.
D. After the severe beating, the jailer was given a strict charge
to keep them securely. Vs. 24
1. "Stocks" were wooden frames with holes in which the feet
or hands and feet were locked.
2. Thus, the preachers were treated as very dangerous
criminals.
E. Nonetheless, they carried their case to a higher court.
IV. Acts 16:25-29
A. The other prisoners were listening as Paul and Silas prayed and
sang hymns. Vs. 25
1. Perhaps this was very strange to the prisoners.
2. Men do not normally sing when in severe pain or distress.
B. God came to the aid of His servants.
1. Normally, chains are not loosed when there is an earthquake.
2. The jailer attempted suicide. Vs. 27
a. He was duty bound under the penalty of death to keep
his prisoners from escaping.
C. The jailer could easily see that God has assisted these men
and, thus, he falls down trembling before them. Vs. 28
V. Acts 16:30-34
A. Consider the jailer's question: "Sirs, what must I do to be
saved." Vs. 30
1. He was not asking to be saved from the earthquake. It had
already passed.
2. He was not asking to be saved from the Roman penalty. The
prisoners were still there.
3. He was asking to be saved from divine condemnation
because of his sins.
4. He asked, "what must I do?" not "what will God do to save
me?"
B. They did not reply by saying, "Only believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ," or "Just call on the name of the Lord."
1. There was more to salvation than just those words because
they continued to speak the word of the Lord to him and his
household. Vs. 32
2. They began with the words "believe on the Lord" because it
was the starting point. The jailer and his household needed
to believe in Christ. Vs. 31
a. On the day of Penetcost, when those Jews asked
basically the same question, Peter replied - Acts 2:38.
(1) They already had faith (believer on the Lord); thus,
they needed to repent and be baptized.
b. Saul, who asked the same question, was told to "arise
and be baptized..." Acts 22:16
(1) He already had faith, and had demonstrated
repentance by praying three days and three nights
and, thus, was told to be baptized.
C. When the word of the Lord is preached, people are required to
be baptized. Vs. 32-33
1. When Philip preached Jesus to the eunuch, the eunuch
wanted to be baptized. Acts 8:35-37
D. Notice that the baptism was immediate. Vs. 33
1. In the New Testament people were baptized as soon as they
heard the gospel and had faith in Christ (Acts 2:41;
8:35-39; 16:30-34).
2. There were no postponements or delays; there was no such
thing as waiting for a "baptismal day."
3. It was always "straightway," "the same day," "the same hour
of the night."
4. They knew that baptism was necessary to salvation.
E. Some use these verses to defend "infant baptism." They say from
verse 33 that "his family" or "his household" would have had
infants and, thus, infants were baptized.
1. They make several assumptions here:
a. That he had infants in his family.
b. That he got them up after midnight and baptized them.
c. That he wanted them saved as babies.
d. That Paul and the others taught a plan of infant
salvation.
e. Verse 34 says, "he rejoiced, having believed in God
with all his household."
(1) Thus, those who were baptized were believers.
Concl.
A. Consider the chain of events that led up to this conversion.
1. Men were beaten and imprisoned because they had cast an
unclean spirit out of a misfortunate girl.
2. They were praying and singing in prison at midnight.
3. A great earthquake occurred that actually loosed the
prisoners' chains.
4. The prisoners didn't escape when they had opportunity to do
so.
5. The jailer saw God's working in this, and responded to the
gospel.
B. What about you today?
1. If you were under the same circumstances would you have
been like the jailer?
2. Are you waiting for an earthquake or something similar
before you will obey?
3. Hopefully, it won't take an earthquake to move you to obey
the gospel.
4. If when baptized, you put on Christ (Gal. 3:27), wash away
sins (Acts 22:16), have remission of sins (Acts 2:38), and
enter the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13); what is your
condition without baptism?
5. Will you repent and be immersed in the name of Christ for
the remission of you sins?
6. Why not now? Why not be baptized at this same hour?