by Hunter » Sun Aug 23, 2015 6:21 pm
Hi DM (disciplemate), maybe I can add something to the discussion. Firstly, let's go further back and read the following verses.
Act 16:20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews (Judeans), do exceedingly trouble our city,
Act 16:21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
Act 16:22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
Act 16:23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely.
Act 16:24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
So, the jailer was charged, by the magistrates (Roman praetores) with keeping these particular prisoners securely imprisoned, so much so was he charged that he put them into the inner prison with their feet locked in stocks. Ask yourself, what would happen to the jailor had Paul and Silas escaped, in addition to rest of the other prisoners - the ones listening to Paul & Silas singing hymns to God in Acts 16:25. His consequences for such would have been to be put to death as punishment, as evidenced earlier in chapter 12 of the Book of Acts, looking specifically in verse 19.
Act 12:17 But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
Act 12:18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.
Act 12:19 And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.
Thusly, it would make sense that he would rather of killed himself than to face humiliation and a likely worse method of death, which would give reason to his actions in vs.27 below.
Act 16:27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
But Paul had called out to him saying "Do thyself no harm: for we are all here." (Acts 16:28). Replying, he said "Men, what must I do to be saved?" I've heard it surmised that out of the mouth of the jailer this meant no more to him than "How am I to save my own skin in this situation" or "How am I to save my reputation as a jailor", but I think this line of thinking falls short. Rather, I think the jailor felt the deepest depths of despair in those moments - as his rash reaction of drawing his sword to kill himself illustrates - having believed his prisoners had escaped. But, instead, was shown mercy realizing they'd not only attempted to not escape but Paul had even called out to him preventing him from rashly taking his own life.
I think this man was in a state of immeasurable gratitude and merciful relief. And whether or not I'm over speculating, I'd say that he recognised the Hand of God in that the severity of the earthquake not only broke open the prison doors, but had inexplicably broke the bands/unfastened the fetters of Paul and company. I think his heart was laid bare in those moments and he was undone, his heart made ready to receive the Word of the Lord.
Without hesitation the jailor expressed his willingness and readiness to Paul and Silas. No doubt, earlier on, he'd heard them either directly speak about the notion of being "saved" or in regards to it in some way from Paul and Silas's accusers in the course of events. As the jailor, how could he not be aware of what Paul and Silas were accused of doing and the surrounding circumstances? He was definitely privy as to the charges against them. From the same chapter in the Book of Acts, read the following passages to demonstrate his likely knowledge of both the notion of salvation and most assuredly of the charges against Paul and Silas. He couldn't have been unaware of the entire ordeal.
Act 16:16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
Act 16:17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
Act 16:18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
Act 16:19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,
Act 16:20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
Act 16:21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
Act 16:22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
Act 16:23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely.
So he was basically asking them in the best way he knew how when it came to the "Way of Salvation", that he'd most likely never considered and only vaguely knew about. Suddenly, he was desperate to know about what to do to receive it, whatever he thought it might be about. They said "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved...", but they didn't just leave it at that, unlike the mystics of judeo-christianity often do as just some single, mystical, untethered, ethereal thought in your mind void of any substance transitioning you to an immediate state of "born-again" bliss which comes with a guaranteed place in heaven. Neither was there a list of sacraments or rites that he, first, had to perform. No! !t says immediately in vs. 32 "And they (Paul and Silas) spoke the Word of the Lord to him and all who were in his household." Now, ask yourself, what is this "Word of the Lord"? And what does it comprise? What Gospel did the apostles share with him and the rest of his house, so that they'd believed on Jesus? What things were they believing for?
One more thing, logic tells me "personal salvation" (if there is any) would be excluded in the event of the jailor with Paul and Silas. He asked to them, "Men, what must I do to be saved?" And they (Paul and Silas) said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." How could Paul and Silas offer "personal salvation" to the jailor's whole household when he'd asked "what must I do". Would it make sense for you, today, to walk into a modern, judeo-christian church and ask the preacher, "I want to be saved", then he responds, "you and your wife, children and anyone else under your care at home shall be saved". How could he make that magical claim if its supposedly just a "personal salvation" thing going on for you at that moment?