Dr. Luke describes in this week’s text the impact on the community as a result of the conversion of the Lydia in Philippi. Her masters agitated the crowd to rise up against Apostle Paul and his companions, and brought them to the magistrates on the accusation that they were teaching customs that were unlawful and contrary to Roman teachings and traditions.


This agitation caused the judges to command that Apostle Paul and his companions be beaten with stripes and be cast into prison charging the jailer to keep them secured. The jailer then thrust the disciples into an inner prison and kept their feet in "stocks".

The scripture says that at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God; and the other prisoners heard them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors of the prison were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. The keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, drew out his sword, and would have killed himself because he thought that the prisoners including his high value target - Apostle Paul and the disciples, had fled.

Apostle Paul seeing the jailer's dilemma cried out with a loud voice saying, "do thyself no harm; for we are all here."  This Philippian jail keeper called for a light, and went to Apostle Paul and Silas trembling and fell down before them, and asked the profound question: "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

Paul and the other disciples in unison said, "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." This directive by Apostle Paul is one of the most controversial scripture in the New Testament, because many have misconstrued this directive as the only basis for salvation. Most folks in religion have used this scripture to imply that simply believing without a full and complete commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ and baptism in Jesus’s name for the remission of sins, and receiving of the Holy Spirit can guarantee them eternal life.

Paul continued speaking unto this jailer and his household the word of the Lord Jesus Christ concerning salvation. This jailer then took Paul and his companions and washed their stripes the same hour of the night, and Paul baptized him and all his house in the name of Jesus. They were then brought by the Philippian jailer’s house and given meat, and they rejoiced greatly, believing in God with all his house. 

Readers of this blog, if you want to know more about this life changing message that will get us right with God, please contact us at:

Meadowvale East Apostolic Church –
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