The Conversion of the Philippian Jailer: more to it than you think

And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. Acts 16:26-34

In any conversion, Jesus wants sinners to embrace Him, not just seek forgiveness. We study the jailer’s salvation.

1.     First of all, note that Paul and Silas didn’t get away from the jail as soon as they could, when the doors had

opened and their chains were unfastened. No, because they were concerned for the salvation of the guard.

2.      “What must I do to be saved?” the jailer pleaded. What was he asking to be saved from? And why?

3.      “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household,” Paul answered.

4.     Why would you tell a Roman guard, pleading for his life, to believe in Jesus as Lord, without explaining life, death, sin and the gospel of salvation? Acts 10:34-48; Romans 1:13-11:36; Revelation 1:17-18.

5.     You wouldn’t! Clearly, the householders didn’t believe as soon as Paul said to believe in Jesus, because they wouldn’t know enough to believe, or what believing in Jesus even means. You don’t believe simply because someone tells you to believe. Being told to believe is just the starting point to get your attention, so that you realise that your salvation lies with someone other than yourself.

6.     What did it take for the sinful woman’s faith to bring forgiveness in Luke 7:36-50? How was faith shown in Matthew 15:21-28? Jesus didn’t tell the rich, young ruler to simply believe. Matthew 19:16-30.

7.     Remember that, for salvation, “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17. There’s teaching and learning involved, followed by a commitment to that teaching. John 8:30-32.

8.     Therefore, it is said in Acts 16 that Paul and Silas “spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.” v.32. But notice that the first thing the jailer does after hearing that word, is wash the wounds of Paul and Silas! There’s no mention yet that he “believed on the Lord Jesus,” though washing their wounds would be a sign of repentance.

9.     In fact, with still no mention of them believing, the jailer and his family are baptized at once! After the initial directive to believe on the Lord Jesus to be saved, there is no mention that they believed. And yet they were baptized! Why? Jesus had said, “Go and preach the gospel to all creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved.” Mark 16:15-16. That’s why they were baptized “at once”! Baptism always immediately follows belief in the New Testament because it is a salvation essential. Why waste time when salvation is at stake?

Just as the Ethiopian would have been taught about baptism when Philip “preached Jesus to him”, Acts 8:35, so it is certain the “word of the Lord” spoken to the jailer would have included teaching on baptism.

10.   The jailer of course must have believed the extra “word of the Lord” he heard, because you don’t baptize a person who doesn’t believe. After Jesus gave the Great Commission, baptism and faith always work together for salvation. Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:36-38; 8:26-39; 10:43,47-48; 16:13-15,30-34; 18:8; 22:6-16. (Repentance is a must too. Luke 13:3; 24:46-47; Acts 2:38; 17:30-31).

11.   Lydia, after her baptism, describes herself as “faithful to the Lord.” Acts 16:15. A believer! And observe, in the explanation of conversion in Titus 3:1-8, that those regenerated by washing and renewal, were “those who had believed God.” Believers! Titus 3:8. If there is no faith, there will be no baptism! John 3:3,5,16. In Acts 18, those who “by grace had believed,” v.27, were the ones who had believed and been baptized. V.8. 

12.   After the baptisms of the jailer’s householders, the jailer brings them all to his house to feed them and they all rejoice that they have believed in God. There is no rejoicing after believing in Jesus, until the baptism! Acts 16:34. The rejoicing of the Ethiopian is also after his baptism! Acts 8:35-39. Faith without baptism is not enough. Not till the baptism is believing mentioned. Baptism belief. Baptism is the believer being immersed in Jesus. Romans 6:3-7; Colossians 2:11-14; Galatians 3:26-27. No wonder they rejoice then!

13.   It is clear that believing in the Lord Jesus implies believing in everything Jesus commands, which would include repentance and baptism. If you believe in Jesus, you believe what he commands for salvation.  Matthew 7:21-29; 11:27-30; 28:18-20; Luke 6:46; John 8:30-32; 14:15; 18:37; Acts 3:19-23. When you tell your children to trust their parents, you are telling them to do more than trust at that instant; you are telling them to obey every instruction their parents give.

14.   The command to believe in the Lord Jesus to be saved would imply repenting and being baptized as part of that belief. The Book of Acts – the book of conversions - proves it. Faith without genuine commitment is worthless. Repenting and being baptized demonstrate your serious intention to live with and for Jesus. Earlier, in the very first sermon preached in Christianity, when sinful Jews, who realized their guilt, asked what they needed to do, Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38.

15.   In Acts 22:16 Saul is told to “arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on His name.”

16.   Since there is “one Lord, one faith, and one baptism,” (Ephesians 4:5), if the baptism of the Jews at Pentecost resulted in forgiveness of their sins, then the baptism of the jailer must have resulted in his salvation! The New Testament doesn’t contradict itself. You can’t have salvation coming only after baptism in one conversion, and salvation coming before baptism in another conversion. Everywhere in the New Testament, baptism is necessary for salvation – as necessary as faith and repentance. Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-47; John 20:30-31; Romans 6:3-18; Galatians 3:26-27; Colossians 2:11-15; 1 Peter 3:18-22

17.   Finally, the householders who were baptized were old enough to hear the gospel and believe. Vs 32-34. In the New Testament there are no babies baptized, because baptism requires hearing the gospel and believing for oneself. Also see Acts 10 and Acts 16:13-15 for other examples of household baptisms.

18.   Read Philippians 1:3-26; 4:4-23. “All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.”  Philippians 4:22. Through evangelistic struggle come many joyous moments, just as in this Roman colony in Philippi. Read Psalms 32 and 51 to see the joy of another converted sinner.

--David Carr

 

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