Everyone In His Household

The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God. Acts 16:29-34

AFTER A SEVERE BEATING, Paul and Silas had been handed over to the jailer in Philippi. That night, the jailer and the other prisoners heard sounds coming from their cell. It wasn’t groaning or cursing, but instead prayer and hymn singing. Around midnight an earthquake rocked the prison. The doors flew open, and the prisoners’ chains fell off. When the jailer saw open doors, he assumed that all of the prisoners had made their escape and that he would be executed for losing them. So he drew his sword to kill himself. But then he heard a voice shouting from the darkness of the prison, assuring him that all the prisoners were still there.

Perhaps the jailer had heard the local fortune-teller’s announcement that these men had come to proclaim a way of salvation. Or maybe he had been moved by their singing and wanted that kind of hope. Perhaps he assumed the earthquake and the release of their chains were a supernatural vindication of them and their message. Whatever it was, the jailer was thoroughly shaken in body and soul, convinced that the salvation these men preached was something he wanted.

But Paul and Silas were not content for this salvation to come just to the jailer. God loves to save not just individuals but entire families, which is exactly what happened that day in Philippi. Paul and Silas shared the word of Christ with everyone in the jailer’s household, and all took hold of it by faith.

Lord, how we long for your salvation to come to our entire household. We want to experience this kind of rejoicing, this kind of reorientation in our home. Shake our home in whatever way is needed so that everyone in our family will want the security that is found in you.