Calvary Bible Church
Sunday, January 25
  • Good morning, church. It is a privilege to be with you today.
    Today is a day of celebration. We just saw the waters of the baptistry stirred. We witnessed men and women stepping forward to make the most important public declaration a human being can make: "I belong to Jesus Christ."
    Whenever we see a baptism, we are witnessing a miracle. We are seeing the visible evidence of an invisible grace. But sometimes, to truly appreciate the beauty of that moment—the white robes, the water, the joy—we have to understand the darkness that came before it. We have to remember that every person who steps into that water was once lost, once broken, and once without hope.
    Today, we are going to look at one of the most dramatic stories in the entire New Testament. It is a story that takes place not in a church, but in a dungeon. It happens not on a Sunday morning, but at midnight. And it involves a man who went from standing on the edge of suicide to experiencing the greatest joy a human soul can know.
    It is the story of the Philippian Jailer.
    If you have your Bibles, please turn with me to the book of Acts, chapter 16. We are going to be looking at verses 16 through 34.
    This narrative gives us a perfect, high-definition picture of what salvation is. It answers the most urgent questions of the human heart: How do I get out of this mess? What must I do to be saved? And what happens to my life after I say "yes" to Jesus?

    The Setup: A Collision of Kingdoms (v. 16-24)

    To understand the jailer, we first have to understand his prisoners. And to understand his prisoners, we have to understand where they are.
    Paul and Silas are in the city of Philippi. Now, Philippi wasn't just any city. It was a Roman Colony. In the ancient world, a Roman colony was a "Little Rome" planted in foreign soil. The citizens of Philippi were Roman citizens. They dressed like Romans, spoke Latin like Romans, and were fiercely patriotic to Caesar. They prided themselves on being the outpost of the Empire.
    Into this proud, patriotic city walk two Jewish missionaries, Paul and Silas, preaching about a different King named Jesus. A collision was inevitable.
    Acts 16:16–17 KJV 1900
    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: 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.
    The spark that lights the fuse happens in verse 16. Paul and Silas are going to prayer, and they are met by a slave girl. The text says she was possessed with a "spirit of divination"—literally, a "spirit of Python." She was a fortune teller. Her masters were using her demon possession to make money. She was a slave twice over: spiritually enslaved by a demon, and physically enslaved by greedy men who exploited her trauma for profit.
    Acts 16:18 KJV 1900
    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.
    For many days, she follows Paul, shouting. Finally, Paul, grieved in his spirit, turns and says to the spirit, "I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." (v. 18). And the demon came out the same hour.
    Acts 16:19 KJV 1900
    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,
    This was a glorious miracle! A girl was free! You would think the whole city would celebrate. But look at verse 19: "And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas..."
    When you mess with the devil's money, the devil gets angry. When the Gospel starts to affect the economy of sin, the world fights back. These men don't care about the girl; they care about their wallets. So they drag Paul and Silas into the marketplace and stir up a mob.
    Acts 16:20–21 KJV 1900
    And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
    They play the "patriotism card." They say in verse 20-21, "These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, and teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans."
    Notice the "Us vs. Them" language. "We are Romans; they are Jews." They whip the crowd into a nationalist frenzy. The magistrates, the city judges, don't even give them a trial. They don't ask for evidence.
    Acts 16:22 KJV 1900
    And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
    Verse 22 says they "rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them."
    Paul and Silas are stripped naked in the public square. They are beaten with rods. This wasn't a slap on the wrist. This was a brutal, bloody scourging that left deep welts and open wounds on their backs. They are humiliated, bleeding, and in agony.
    Acts 16:23 KJV 1900
    And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
    And then, verse 23 says they were cast into prison, and the jailer was charged to "keep them safely."
    This is where we meet our main character: the Jailer. He is a blue-collar worker, a man with a job to do. He sees these two bleeding men, and he doesn't show an ounce of mercy. He treats them like dangerous terrorists.
    Acts 16:24 KJV 1900
    Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
    Verse 24: "Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks."
    The "inner prison" was the dungeon. It was a hole in the ground. No windows, no light, no ventilation. It smelled of sewage, disease, and death. And he puts them in "stocks." These weren't just shackles; they were instruments of torture designed to spread the legs as wide as possible to cause cramping and agony.
    This is the setup. Two innocent men, who came to bring light to the city, are now bleeding in the dark. It looks like the enemy has won. It looks like the Kingdom of God has been defeated by the might of Rome.
    Philippi was a Roman Colony, proud and patriotic.
    Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown in prison for setting a slave girl free.
    The world often punishes what God applauds (or loves).

    The Crisis: The Song and the Shake (v. 25-28)

    But you can lock up the messengers, but you cannot lock up the message. And you certainly cannot lock up the joy of the Lord.
    Acts 16:25 KJV 1900
    And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
    Look at verse 25. This is one of the most astounding verses in the Bible. "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them."
    It is midnight. Their backs are raw meat. Their legs are cramping in the stocks. They are in total darkness. Most men would be cursing. Most men would be weeping. Most men would be questioning God: "Lord, we obeyed you! We came to Macedonia because of a vision! And this is the thanks we get?"
    But Paul and Silas aren't complaining. They are singing.
    They are praying and singing hymns to God. The Greek word implies they were singing a continuous stream of praise. Why? How is this possible? It teaches us a profound theology of worship: Worship is not a feeling; it is a weapon. Worship is not a response to good circumstances; it is a response to a good God. Paul and Silas understood that while their location had changed, their God had not. God was just as worthy of praise in the dungeon as He was in the temple.
    And notice: "and the prisoners heard them." The other inmates are listening. They are used to hearing screams. They are used to hearing the curses of hopeless men. But now, in the darkest hole in Philippi, they hear the melody of hope. The Gospel is often loudest when the darkness is deepest.
    Acts 16:26 KJV 1900
    And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.
    And then, God joins the worship service. He adds the percussion. Verse 26: "And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken..."
    God taps His foot, and the earth shakes. But this wasn't a normal earthquake. A normal earthquake brings the roof down and crushes people. Look at what this earthquake did: "...and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed."
    This was a surgical strike. The chains fell off. The doors swung open. But the walls stood firm. God didn't want to kill the prisoners; He wanted to free them.
    Acts 16:27 KJV 1900
    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.
    Now, shift your focus to the Jailer. He’s been asleep (which tells you how hardened he was—he could sleep while men were groaning in his dungeon). The earthquake wakes him up. He runs to the cells. He sees the doors standing wide open.
    And in that moment, panic grips his heart. Verse 27: "And the keeper of the prison... drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled."
    Why suicide? Was he just depressed? No. It was the cold calculation of Roman law. Under Roman law, if a guard let a prisoner escape, the guard had to pay the penalty intended for the prisoner. Paul and Silas were likely facing execution. If they were gone, the Jailer would be executed. And not just executed—he would be shamed. He would lose his honor. His family would be disgraced.
    In his mind, his life was already over. He decides to take control of his own ending rather than face the humiliation of a Roman trial. He draws his sword. He places the point against his chest. He braces himself to fall on it. He is one second, one heartbeat, away from a Christ-less eternity in hell.
    Acts 16:28 KJV 1900
    But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
    And then, a voice from the darkness. Verse 28: "But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here."
    Don't miss the grace in this moment. Paul could have stayed silent. He could have reasoned, "Well, this guy tortured us. He’s an enemy of the Gospel. If he kills himself, we can escape in the confusion. It’s God’s judgment on him!" But Paul didn't want to escape from the jailer; he wanted to win the jailer. Paul cared more about the soul of his persecutor than his own freedom. He shouts into the dark to save the life of the man who beat him.
    "We are all here!" Nobody ran. The power of God kept them in the cell just as effectively as the chains had.
    Worship is not a response to good circumstances; it is a response to a good God.
    The Jailer was ready to take his own life because he feared the shame of Rome (or execution).

    The Question: What Must I Do? (v. 29-30)

    Acts 16:29–30 KJV 1900
    Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
    The Jailer can't believe it. He calls for a light (a torch). He rushes in. And the tough, hardened Roman soldier collapses. He falls down trembling before Paul and Silas. The power dynamic has completely flipped. The prisoners are now the masters, and the master is now the beggar.
    He brings them out of the dungeon, and he asks the question that had been burning in his soul. Verse 30: "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
    This is the most important question in human history. Notice what he didn't ask. He didn't ask, "How did you do that earthquake trick?" He didn't ask, "What are your political views on Rome?" He didn't ask, "Can you help me get a promotion?"
    He asked, "How do I get saved?" The word "saved" here (sozo) means rescued, delivered, preserved. Maybe he meant, "How can I be saved from the Roman magistrates?" But Paul knew he meant more. This man had heard the girl shouting about the "Way of Salvation." He had felt the earth shake. He had looked death in the face. He knew, in that terrifying moment, that he was not right with God. He knew he was broken. He knew he was guilty.
    This is the prerequisite for salvation. You have to know you are lost before you can be found. You have to know you are drowning before you will grab the life preserver. The earthquake shattered this man's pride and self-reliance, leaving him ready for the Gospel.
    The most important question in history: "What must I do to be saved?"
    He knew he was spiritually bankrupt (or lost).

    The Answer: The Simple Gospel (v. 31-32)

    Acts 16:31–32 KJV 1900
    And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
    Paul’s answer is beautiful in its simplicity. He doesn't give him a twelve-step program. He doesn't give him a list of rules. Verse 31: "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."
    Let’s unpack that statement, because it is the core of our faith.
    1. "Believe" He didn't say "Join the church." He didn't say "Get baptized" (that comes later). He didn't say "Clean up your life." He didn't say "Give money." He said Believe. To believe means more than just intellectual agreement. It means to trust. It means to rely upon. It’s the difference between looking at a chair and believing it can hold you, and actually sitting in the chair. Salvation comes when we stop trusting in our own goodness, our own works, our own religion, and we put our full weight on Jesus.
    2. "On the Lord Jesus Christ" The object of your faith matters. You aren't just believing in "God" generally. You are believing in this specific Person.
    Lord: He is the Master. He is Yahweh in the flesh. He has the right to rule your life.
    Jesus: The name means "Yahweh Saves." He is the Savior who died on the cross for your sins.
    Christ: He is the Messiah, the Anointed King.
    3. "And thou shalt be saved" Not "you might be saved." Not "we'll see how you do." You shall be. It is a promise. It is a guarantee. When you trust in Christ, the transaction is done. Your sins are forgiven. Your name is written in the Book of Life. You are secure.
    4. "And thy house" Now, we need to be careful here doctrinally. Does this mean that because the Jailer believed, his wife and kids were automatically saved? No. The Bible does not teach "salvation by proxy." So what does it mean? It means the offer was valid for his whole house. It means that if he brought the Gospel home, the same promise applied to them. Verse 32 clarifies this perfectly: "And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house." Paul went to the house. He preached the Gospel to the wife, the kids, the servants. They all had to hear. They all had to believe. And as we will see, they all did.
    The Gospel is simple: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ."
    Belief means to trust or rely upon.
    "And thy house" means the offer of salvation is open to the whole family.

    The Response: Washing and Water (v. 33-34)

    Acts 16:33–34 KJV 1900
    And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
    So the Jailer believes. He trusts Christ. He is saved. Now, watch what happens immediately. True faith always produces evidence. Faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is never alone—it is always accompanied by change.
    1. Repentance (Washing Stripes)Verse 33: "And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes..."This is a beautiful picture of repentance. An hour ago, he was locking them in stocks. He didn't care about their bleeding backs. He was the one who probably inflicted some of the pain. Now, he is washing their wounds. He is tending to the very injuries he ignored. The Gospel changes us. It softens us. It turns a torturer into a nurse. He couldn't undo the beating, but he could wash the stripes. That is the fruit of repentance—a desire to heal what we have hurt.
    2. Baptism (Getting Wet)"...and was baptized, he and all his, straightway." "Straightway" means immediately. Right then. In the middle of the night. They didn't wait for a baptism class. They didn't wait for Sunday morning. They didn't wait for the family to come into town. Why the urgency? Because in the New Testament, baptism is the first act of obedience for a believer. It is the uniform of the Christian. The Jailer understood: "I belong to Jesus now. I want the world to know. I want to be identified with the One who saved me."
    Notice the order. This is critical for us today. First: Belief (v. 31). Second: Baptism (v. 33). If you reverse that order, you have a false gospel. Baptism doesn't save you; belief saves you. Baptism is the public declaration of the belief that has already happened. Almost 22 years ago, Amanda put this ring on my finger. It’s like a wedding ring. The ring doesn't make you married (the vows do), but the ring tells the world you are married.
    3. Joy (Rejoicing)Verse 34: "And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house." The night started with a beating. It moved to an earthquake. It almost ended in suicide. But look how it ends. It ends with a meal. It ends with a party. He rejoiced. Why? Because the burden of sin was gone. The fear of death was gone. The dread of the Roman magistrates was replaced by the peace of God. He was a new creation.
    Repentance: He washed their stripes.
    Baptism: He was baptized straightway. (Immediately).
    Joy: He rejoiced with all his house.

    Conclusion: What About You?

    This morning, we witnessed people following in the footsteps of the Philippian Jailer. They have heard the Word. They have believed with all their hearts. And then, this morning, they were baptized to declare their allegiance to King Jesus.
    So, I have to ask you the question the Jailer asked: "What must I do to be saved?"
    Maybe you are here today and you feel like you are in a prison. Maybe not a literal one with iron bars, but a prison of the soul.
    A prison of guilt over your past.
    A prison of addiction you can't break.
    A prison of anxiety about the future.
    A prison of religion, trying to be good enough for God and failing.
    Maybe you feel like the foundations of your life are shaking. The answer for you is the same as it was for that Roman soldier 2,000 years ago.
    I’ve talked with a lot of people over the years about heaven and how we get there. Believe it or not, there are a lot of different options out there on this topic! But one thing I have noticed is most of the answers to that question is based in the first person. “I’m going to heaven because I....”. The only correct response to this question should be answered in the third person “I’m going to heaven because HE......”
    You know, there is a story that the Scottish pastor Alistair Begg tells that captures this better than anything I’ve ever heard. It’s about the Thief on the Cross.
    Think about that thief. He died a few years before our story in Acts 16. He was a criminal. He lived a life of violence. He never went to church. He never gave a dime to the poor. He never memorized a Bible verse. And he certainly never got baptized; he died on a cross.
    But Jesus told him, "Today, you will be with me in Paradise."
    Now, imagine that thief arriving at the gates of Heaven. He is standing there, probably looking a little confused. And an angel stops him at the checkpoint for an interview.
    The angel asks, "Excuse me, sir. Are you clear on the doctrine of Justification by Faith?" The thief looks blank and says, "I’ve never heard of it."
    The angel frowns and says, "Okay... well, what about the doctrine of Sola Scriptura? Are you clear on the infallibility of the Word?" The thief says, "I... I don't even know how to read."
    The angel is getting frustrated. "Well, let's try this. On what basis are you here? What did you do?" The thief says, "I didn't do anything."
    The angel calls for a supervisor. An archangel comes over and says, "We have a problem here. This man has no paperwork. He has no baptism certificate. He has no church membership. He doesn't know the theology." So the supervisor looks at the thief and says, "Sir, I need to know. On what basis are you seeking entrance into this Kingdom? Why should we let you in?"
    And the thief looks at the angel and says, "I don't know. All I know is... the Man on the middle cross said I could come."
    That is it. That is the only answer that works. That is the only answer the Philippian Jailer had. And that is the only answer you have.
    You don't get in because you understand all the theology. You don't get in because you are a Baptist or a Presbyterian. You don't get in because you got dunked in water. You get in because the Man on the middle cross—the Lord Jesus Christ—said you could come.
    Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Stop trying to save yourself. Put your sword away. You don't have to hurt yourself. Jesus was already hurt for you. He took the stripes so you could be washed. He took the death so you could have life. All you have to do is trust Him.
    And for those of you who have believed, but have never been baptized: What are you waiting for? The Jailer didn't wait until it was convenient. He didn't wait until he was perfect. He did it immediately. If you are a follower of Jesus, don't delay your obedience. There is a joy—a specific, unique joy—that comes when you publicly stand for Christ.
    Today, let's rejoice with those who are being baptized. Let's remember the day our own chains fell off. And let's celebrate the God who can turn a midnight dungeon into a place of praise.
    Let’s pray.

      • Acts 16:16–17KJV1900

      • Acts 16:18KJV1900

      • Acts 16:19KJV1900

      • Acts 16:20–21KJV1900

      • Acts 16:22KJV1900

      • Acts 16:23KJV1900

      • Acts 16:24KJV1900

      • Acts 16:25KJV1900

      • Acts 16:26KJV1900

      • Acts 16:27KJV1900

      • Acts 16:28KJV1900

      • Acts 16:29–30KJV1900

      • Acts 16:31–32KJV1900

      • Acts 16:33–34KJV1900

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