Salvation of the jailer

“But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!’” (1) Paul shouted, (a) “Do not harm yourself,” and (b) “we are all here.” (2) Although the doors were open, none of the other prisoners escaped. Though, Luke does not explain why, it is likely that witnessing the power of the God whom Paul and Silas proclaimed instilled a sense of awe. Some of these prisoners later may have become members of the Philippian church. “And the jailer asked for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas… ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’” (1) “And the jailer asked for lights and rushed in.” (a) This jailer was the head of the prison. (b) He had a subordinate bring in a torch to light the way to the inner cell. (c) Trembling, he fell down before Paul and Silas. (2) The jailer asked the most important question: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” He was asking how he could come to know God. He sensed that he could not stand before God with his sins. “They said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.’” (1) “Believe in the Lord Jesus” is not the entirety of the gospel message. That night, Paul and Silas shared the full gospel with the jailer and his entire household. The content of the gospel is outlined in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8: (a) Christ died for our sins. (b) He was buried in the tomb. (c) And He rose again on the third day. (2) “And you will be saved, you and your household.” This means that both you and your household will be saved through faith in the Lord Jesus. It does not imply that one person’s faith results in another person’s salvation. “And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household.” (1) The jailer took Paul and Silas in and washed their wounds. Then he and his entire household were baptized, likely using water from the well in the prison courtyard. (2) Afterward, the jailer brought Paul and Silas into his home to treat their injuries and to provide them with a meal. Faith alone is the condition for salvation; there is no other way to be saved. Let us confirm our salvation based on God’s Word.