Let the saved rejoice every day for the privilege of knowing Jesus as their Saviour and Lord and God as their Father. Life without Christ is insecure. It is established on things with no foundation, so it falls when hit by any violent storm. Otherwise, how could a seemingly free prison officer ask for freedom from prisoners?
“Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.” (Acts 16:34). To have prisoners escape from you is an experience any jailer dreads, for there is every indication that the punishment is severe. These are instances in the Bible of such situations and how they were viewed. When Peter was rescued from jail by an angel, Herod ordered all the soldiers guarding him to be executed. (Acts 12:19a).
During a shipwreck that occurred when Paul was going to Rome as a prisoner, the soldiers guarding him and other prisoners sought to kill them lest any escape, for they might have been frightened of the consequences (Acts 27:42). If a person under police custody escapes, they are given a short time to look for them or be punished.
Therefore, it is not surprising that the Philippians’ jailer attempted suicide after an earthquake caused the prison door, where Paul and others were held in custody, to open. Fortunately for him, none of the prisoners escaped, obviously because of Paul and Silas’s influence, for whose sake God allowed the earthquake to happen. Paul had to cry out to restrain him from stabbing himself with his sword (Acts 16:27). The jailers were shocked at Paul and Silas’ godly conduct that had prevented any prisoners from escaping, so they fell trembling and asked how they could be saved. They spoke the good news about the Lord Jesus to him and his household, and they were all saved and rejoiced for their salvation. All those without Christ are in prison, and if they come to them, He will set them free.
