The Philippian Jailer
Study with me the account of the conversion of the Philippian
jailer and his house, which is found in Acts 16:25-34. Paul
and Silas had been consigned to prison because false charges
had been brought against them. At midnight a great earthquake
opened the doors of the jails and loosed the bonds of the prisoners.
This was obviously miraculous intervention by God. The jailer
expected to find the prisoners gone and would have killed himself
but was stopped by Paul who said, "Do thyself no harm:
for we are all here."
Acknowledging Paul and Silas as men of God, he asked the question, "Sirs,
what must I do to be saved?" The immediate and preliminary
answer was simple: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." the word house
in this verse is sometimes used to justify the modern unscriptural
practice of baptizing infants. However, upon close examination
we find the Bible says, "And they spake unto him the word
of the Lord, and to all that were in his house." Obviously,
infants are not capable of hearing, understanding, evaluating
and responding to such a gospel presentation, and thus are
not fit subjects for water baptism (which is immersion and
not sprinkling - - Romans 6:1-4; Colossians 2:12).
Many people who are prejudiced against water baptism also
attempt to use this passage to maintain the belief that water
baptism is unnecessary to salvation. They are wrong in this
attempt. first, what does it mean to believe on the Lord? Second,
can a man believe on the Lord and not know what the Lord teaches?
Notice in verse 32 it says, "they spake unto him the word
of the Lord." Third, after hearing the word of the Lord
and finding out what the Lord teaches, can a man reject what
the Lord teaches and still believe on the Lord? Obviously,
the phrase "believe on the Lord" includes accepting
and trusting in whatever the Lord's word says. This gospel
sermon clearly included the terms of salvation set forth in
the Great Commission: preaching, believing, repentance (this
was evident because he "washed their stripes" that
they had received when they were beaten:, and water baptism
(Matthew 28:18-28; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-47). Remember,
saved believers in the book of Acts were always baptized believers
(Acts 2:38,44).
Finally, notice they were baptized "straightway" and
only after they were baptized did they rejoice (Acts 2:38;
8:26-39; 22:16).