Of all the conversion stories we read in Acts, surely one of the most dramatic would be the account of the Philippian jailer. God used a literal earthquake to get this man’s attention! We don’t know the man’s name but the record of his coming to faith in Christ and being baptised, along with his entire household, catches our attention in a vivid way. Let’s look at the steps by which God brought this man to salvation and notice that in many ways it matches the way God continues to operate.
First, we see that salvation came to this man while he went about his daily duties. He didn’t wake up that day with a strange feeling that something special might happen. He simply took care of Paul and Silas as ordinary prisoners in the course of a day’s work. He had no idea that his entire life, and the life of his family, would be completely changed by God’s grace before his shift was over. He wasn’t interested in spiritual things. He wasn’t looking to be saved. And yet…God did save him! What a gracious God who delights in seeking out those who aren’t seeking Him!
Second, we see that salvation came to this man in the midst of a personal crisis. If the prisoners had escaped during the earthquake that opened their cell doors, then this man would have been executed. Failure in the Roman army was not an option! Yet right at the moment when he attempts suicide to escape his fate, Paul calls out to him and encourages him. God’s grace came to this man at the exact time he needed it most. At this point, the jailer realises that Paul and Silas are godly men and have a message from God for his soul so he asks, “What must I do to be saved?”.
This leads us to the final step, that of hearing the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ. Paul told the jailer about Christ’s life, death and resurrection in the middle of the night and the man believed the gospel and entrusted himself to Christ alone for the forgiveness of all of his sins.
God still works in similar ways today. He doesn’t always use an earthquake, but He does get people’s attention through a personal illness, through the death of a loved one, the loss of a job or some other difficult trial. He may send a friend to someone right when they despair of life. God’s grace comes to people often when they least expect it. But the good news of the gospel is that we don’t have to wait for some amazing situation in our life to come to Christ for salvation. All people are invited to come to Christ right now. Jesus is Lord and we are commanded to bow to him right now.
Do you know Psalm 107:13-15? “Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart. Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wonderous works to the children of man!”.
— Allen Beardmore