Acts 16.25-34

As Acts 16 continues Paul and Silas find themselves in the inner prison of a jail in Philippi (16.24). Despite their surroundings, their spirits were not suffering and we read that they were praying and singing hymns to God as the night descended. As this is happening a great earthquake hits and shakes everybody and everything: prisoners, guards, and the jail itself (v.26). Rather than run into the night, as the jailer expected (v.27), Paul and the others sit tight. This was so unexpected that the jailer rushed in…trembling with fear…[and] fell down before Paul and Silas. We then read that 

“Then he brought them outside 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.”

(Acts 16.30-31, NET)

What a wonderful witness to the jailer: believing prisoners singing hymns at midnight, a supernatural expression of the Lord’s power in an earthquake, and a non-existent jailbreak that inadvertently saved his life (cf. v.27). Seeing all of this he wants to be involved. Seeing the Lord at work draws people to Him in an inescapable way. The Good News is preached to him and his household (v.32) and it is received and actioned (v.33).

For you and for me, we see that personal experience is a wonderful witness to the truth and authenticity of the Lord, but equally as powerful is the personal testimony of a trusted person (vv.32-34).

Maybe all of your friends and family won’t see earthquakes and non-existent jailbreaks, but they will see you.

Maybe your friends and family won’t have the Gospel preached to them by Paul, but they will talk to and listen to you.

When they do, are you helping them to believe?