Paul goes to jail--part 3

 

PAUL GOES TO JAIL--PART 3

     Now, I do not know how true this is, but I saw an interesting fact about the outlaw Jesse James on social media. Jesse James and crew robbed over twenty banks and trains in their two-decade-long crime spree. But there was one town in Texas that James would not rob. This town served amazing chili, and James knew that robbing that town would be the end of him getting to enjoy this chili.

 

     With Paul and Silas in his jail, the jailer in Acts 16 would have a similar life-changing experience. But his story would involve something far greater than chili.

 

     Acts 16:25-34(CSB)

 

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose. When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison standing wide open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped.

 

But Paul called out in a loud voice, ‘Don’t harm yourself, because we’re all here!”

 

The jailer called for lights, and rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. He escorted them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

 

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 along with everyone in his house. He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away he and all his family were baptized. He brought them into his house, set a meal before them, and rejoiced because he had come to believe in God with his entire household.

 

 

This is the Word of God.

For the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

 

 

 

     Paul and Silas are in jail. They are in jail for freeing a slave girl from being trafficked. And before being tossed into jail and placed in stocks, they were beaten with rods. A normal reaction to one of these events, let alone all of them, would be grumbling and complaining. Most of us would be angry at the slave owners, the mob, the magistrates, the jailer, and maybe even God. But Paul and Silas do not go that route. They pray and sing hymns to God.

 

     In fairness, Paul and Silas were in pain and uncomfortable. Between the stocks and the wounds on their backs, sleep would have been impossible. Though they were in outward chains, their hearts were free because of God’s grace. And they worshipped amid the jail cell for all the prison to hear.

 

     As they were singing, there was an earthquake. This was not because their singing was that bad, it was a geographical event. It was strong enough to break the jail, opening doors and shaking the chains loose on all the prisoners. Not one of the prisoners escape. The text does not explain why, but it is very possible that they knew somehow it was connected to Paul and Silas along with God.

 

     Verse 27 says, “The jailer woke up and saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself.” Remember, this is the jailer who locked the apostles in jail with no regard for their wounds. But now this jailer was powerless. The jailer recognized he was in a hopeless position. According to Roman law, he would be subject to the same punishment as those incarcerated under his watch. Rather than face disgrace and humiliation, the jailer was ready to commit suicide.

 

     “Don’t harm yourself!” Paul shouted. The jailer approached, now viewing Paul and Silas as the ones with the power. He asked the apostles, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Notice how the jailer addressed them, “Sirs.” A term of respect. Now, the jailer asking this question was not in the terms you and I would understand. This jailer was asking Paul and Silas, “Is your God willing to spare me?”

     Here are Paul and Silas, beaten and broken. Their adversary is at their feet. They could have sought revenge, but Paul and Silas offer the jailer something better than chili. Paul and Silas demonstrate the inward work of God in their lives by offering a hand-up to the jailer. And what happens? The jailer is transformed by grace, demonstrated first by his treating the apostles’ wounds, then by being baptized, and lastly by giving the apostles a meal. A miracle took place with a brutal jailer becoming a caretaker.

 

     The truth in our text is illuminated through the reaction of the jailer. When he saw those prison doors open, panic set in. Fear took hold of him, and the only way the jailer saw through it was suicide. This is the power of fear, one that leads to destruction.

 

     Looking at this entire section, fear has been a major contributor to Paul going to jail. The angry mob was afraid the “Pax Romana,” peace of Rome, was threatened, so the magistrates out of fear threw the apostles in jail with no investigation. It was fear of losing their profits that led the slave owners to bring Paul and Silas to the magistrates.

 

     Fear destroys. It casts a shadow so dark, that it seems to hide any shimmer of hope. If an organization or a person is trying to make progress, fear of change can bring everything to a halt. And there is no faster way to danger a relationship than when fear takes over.

 

     Notice who was not ruled by fear in this story. Paul and Silas. I am sure they were afraid, but they leaned into their faith. And when the earthquake created an opportunity for them to flee, faith kept them in place for this divine moment. When they had an opening to malign or weaponize the jailer’s fear, the faith of Paul and Silas kept them from speaking in that manner. Instead, Paul and Silas reached out to offer the jailer a hand-up from the pit of darkness in the light of Jesus Christ.

 

     The light shines in the darkness. It is brighter than the shadows fear has cast over our lives. It is brighter than the fears we have of our neighbors. It is brighter than the change we fear. It is brighter than the hopelessness we feel.

 

     When we feel fear, it is because an area of who we are is exposed leaving us vulnerable. And when the light shines into our darkness, it can be just as jarring. Now we can see our weaknesses, and maybe so can others. However, the Light is Jesus. He is not there to condemn you or me, Jesus is there in the love of God to help us take a step forward.

 

     So that leaves you and me with a decision. Will we stand in the love of Jesus? No promise that Jesus will make all your problems go away. But Jesus will lead you on a path to healing.

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