If we want to glean encouragement from
a transformative moment, Acts 16: 23-37 is the place to go. Paul and Silas are highlighted
as examples of hope during deprivation for counting on Jesus in terrible
circumstances. The Roman prisons were notorious for their dark, windowless
cells, their heavy chains, and scant food if any. Dungeons are usually
underground.
On this occasion, Paul and Silas suffered with beatings after prison guards stripped them. The guards threw them into the innermost cells and bound their feet in chains. Try to imagine the surprises among prisoners and guards to hear them singing while shackled and sitting in the middle of a darkness beyond dark. Frankly, I cannot imagine doing the same.
I’m
guessing Paul and Silas sang the Psalms, until suddenly an earthquake hit
throwing every prison bar open. The prisoners’ chains literally fell off, with
no keys, and no guards unlocking them. The shock and amazement fell on the
prisoners and the jailer awakening from his sleep.
When
the jailer realized that all the prison bars opened, he unsheathed his sword to
commit suicide since he anticipated that all the prisoners had escaped. Why
would this guard attempt suicide? The Romans likely killed their jailers when
prisoners escaped.
However, Paul called out, “We’re all here. Don’t kill yourself.” The jailer asked a guard to bring a torch to verify what Paul shouted. When he saw the truth, he fell down in front of Paul and Silas and asked, “What must I do to be saved?”
The scripture passage does not tell us about all the previous interactions between Paul, Silas and their jailer. My guess; he was shocked first that they took their punishment in a brave, non-abusive way and then later heard them singing as he fell asleep. I’m sure that the jailer never met any prisoners like this duo!
The story goes on to relate that Paul and Silas shared the good news of Jesus and how to enter a relationship with Him. His acceptance of Jesus is obvious when we read that the jailer washed Paul and Silas’ wounds. I wish the jailer’s name was known but we read that he took them to his family home, fed them, and the jailer’s family was baptized. Scripture relates that he and his family experienced joy. Later, the jailer was told by the authorities that they were to be released.
The jailer experienced true transformation. Paul and Silas lived out their faith in a setting that was beyond awful. Their witness was transformative. The earthquake’s occurrence is interesting too. The iron doors of the cells sprang open, prisoners were released from chains, but the prison walls didn’t crumble around them. God enacted very specific results during the quake. The impact on the jailer led to his salvation and the salvation of his family.
While
none of us might face earthquakes or imprisonment, are we living our lives as
believers who bring hope to others even during problems that beset us? Recall
some of your most precious moments of transformation. I pray that I-and every
believer- will draw added ability with Jesus’ help to stand strong in
adversity. Transformation is available to all of us with the help of His
precious Holy Spirit.
“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.”
