Paul Saves the Jailer from Death

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, 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. And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 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 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. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 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? 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. 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. Acts 16:19-34

Steps: 1, 2, 3, 11, 12

Paul and friends had cast out a demon from a young lady in the city of Philippi. As a result the people who attempted to control the addiction of this lady reported this change to the police and Paul and Silas were arrested, beated, and sent to prison. While in prison they continued to praise Jesus and at midnight God freed Paul, Silas, and all of the prisoners. The jailer, seeing that everyone could go free was ready to commit suicide for any jailer who lost his prisoners was killed for incompetance. Paul stopped him before he could harm himself telling him that although all were freed, none had left because of Paul. The prisoner hearing of all of these stories about Paul asked what he could do to be saved. Paul told him that what he needed to do was to believe in the Man who had sent Paul - Jesus the Christ. The Jailer did this and he, and all of his family was baptized.

Prayer for Today: God, when You visit us in the form of Your children, help us to accept Your message, and Your invitation. Help us to accept this message at the cost of all else for this is our salvation, or deliverance from our addictive behaviors, and our addictive thoughts. Help us to trust You and move immediately and not wait for further displays of Your love and power. Thank You again for Your patience with us.