The Philippian Jailer
Paul healed a slave girl who was possessed by a demon.
In the name of Jesus he commanded the spirit to come out of her.
Immediately the evil spirit left her, and she was in her right mind,
but she could no longer foretell the future. Her masters could not use
her anymore to gain money for them. You can imagine their anger at
Paul, who had ruined their fortune telling business.
They grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities,
accusing them of causing an uproar and teaching against their way of
life. The judges ordered them to be stripped of their clothing and beaten.
They were unmercifully flogged and then, weak and bleeding, they were
thrown into an inner cell of the prison and their feet were put in
stocks. Then a jailer was commanded to guard them.
The Bible says that about midnight they were praying and singing hymns
to God. There were other prisoners in the cell listening to them.
Suddenly there was a great earthquake, and the prison shook. The doors
opened and the chains came off all the prisoners, but nobody tried to
escape.
However, when the jailer woke up and saw the doors opened, he started
to take his own life because he knew he would be killed if his
prisoners had escaped.
Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"
The jailer was so frightened he was trembling. He called for some
lights so he could look inside the cell. He fell down at the feet of
Paul and Silas. He said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
They told him to believe in Jesus, and they preached about the Lord to
the jailer and the people of his household.
He washed their stripes and immediately the jailer and his family were
baptized. He brought Paul and Silas to his house and fed them. The
whole family was so happy!