Suicidal to saved was the experience of the jailer who oversaw Paul and Silas as prisoners. In those days, the guards were responsible for their prisoners and would be held accountable for their escape. The punishment for the guard who let a prisoner escape would be the same sentence as the person who escaped.
Paul and Silas had been imprisoned unjustly but gave glory to God as they prayed and sang hymns. As the other prisoners listened intently to Paul and Silas, they experienced a massive earthquake. Acts 16:26The prison was shaken to its foundation. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! 27 The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. 28 But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!” [1]
The witness of Paul and Silas transformed their fellow prisoners, so they did not want to escape. Although in prison, the prisoners who placed their faith in Jesus were set free.
The Jailer was Transformed
The jailer was free in a physical sense but was a prisoner of satan in the cell of unbelief. That all changed when God sent Paul and Silas into prison. This was a divine appointment to lead him and his family to faith. The prisoners listened to Paul and Silas as they prayed and sang hymns, but so did the jailer. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, something began to happen in the jailer’s heart. The earthquake that shook the jail also shook the jailer in a spiritual sense.
Acts 16:29 The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” [2] The jailer was at a crossroads and now was confronted by the truth of the word of God. Romans 10:17So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. [3] As the jailer looks up to God, he is called to faith and moves from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of Light.
The Power of God’s Word
The jailer soon gathered his entire family in the late hour, and Paul and Silas shared the word of the Lord with Him and all who lived in his household. God so transformed the jailer’s heart that he tended to the wounds of Paul and Silas.Acts 16:The jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then, he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized.[4]
The jailer and family then praised the Lord for calling them to faith. This story illustrates that Jesus is the divine intruder who comes into our lives in unexpected ways. He can work in us to be His tool to save others and create circumstances that soften our hearts to the call of the Holy Spirit. To hear the story of suicidal to saved, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/singing-in-jail
[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.