Prisoners Set Free

Prisoners Set Free

2014-02-02

Acts 16:25-40

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” 36 And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” 37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.” 38 The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. 39 So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. 40 So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.

The Holy Spirit quietly opened Lydia’s heart and now we see God using unjust punishment for evangelism in an unlikely place—jail of Philippi.

·      God sovereignly controls all natural/supernatural events. Act 16:25-28

o   Such as the timing of the earthquake, prison did not collapse, prisoners did not flee or escape even though it would have been easy.

o   God even stopped jailer from committing suicide with Paul’s words.

·      God’s ways are higher & more purposeful than we can imagine/understand.

o   seismos megas not to deliver Paul &Silas but rather to deliver jailer.

§  There is no evidence that Paul & Silas prayed for release.

An earthquake caused jailer to recognize the spiritual power of Paul & Silas & sincerely ask most important question in the world, “What must I do to be saved?”  Act 16:29-32, Eph. 2:8-9, Rom 10:9-10

·      Not “saved” from punishment, he faced no punishment…because nobody escaped.  

·      Paul: “Perform no works; only believe in Jesus Christ as Lord.”

o   believe who Jesus claimed to be & did, repent & receive His substitutionary death for your sins.

·      He did not understand it all but what he did know he believed & Jesus saved him.

The jailer, like Lydia, gave evidence of genuine conversion. Act 16:33-34

·      A potential family tragedy was turned into joy-filled occasion when prisoners brought the message that set them all free from their sin.

o   This is not “household salvation”, each person personally believed.

To not arouse suspicion of jailer’s superiors...Paul and Silas returned to prison.

·      On the next day the magistrates decided to release Paul and Silas. We do not know why. Act 16:35-39

Paul’s response was not what they expected.

·      not wanting his unjust treatment a precedent to mistreat other Christians.

·      Paul used his Roman citizenship not for revenge, but protect newborn Philippian church from government harassment & give Christians the freedom to worship & minister.

o   Not wrong for Christians to use their legal rights if it promotes cause of Jesus Christ.

·      The consequences for unlawfully beating/torturing/imprisoning of a Roman citizen without direct permission from Rome was potentially very serious.

o   magistrates may be removed from the office & city could have their rights reduced.

·      magistrates, not missionaries, were forced to negotiate.

o   They personally, politely, and contritely came to appease, escort, & request that Paul & Silas leave the city.

Satan's plans were frustrated/overruled by God's sovereign control of events. Is 55:8-9, Ps 76:10, Acts 2:22-24, Dan 4:35b

·      What God purposes, He does, thru various means that reveal His power/glory.

o   He as easily uses normal, supernatural, evil to achieve His purposes.

§  God’s ways are not ours. 

·      Trust God to bring light out of dark situations.

o   to change/save seemingly hopeless people/situations.  

·      Choose to believe God’s unseen hand working on your behalf for His glory.

Christ has not abandoned you…He is holding you in the palm of His h