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The Jailors Conversion

Acts 16:23-40

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Introduction

• Paul in Prison at Philippi

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•Discussion

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Acts 16:23-24

• And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

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1. Unaware ---Lost and didn’t know it

• The jailor was apparently unaware of his lost condition

• Like so many today

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Mt. 16:26

• For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

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Acts 16:26-27

• [26] And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

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• [27] And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

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2. Shaken

• A great earthquake shook the prison

• The jailor was shaken physically and “spiritually”

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Acts 16:28-29

• But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

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3. Concern

• Sprang = “to leap, rush, or spring into” (Young’s Concordance)

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Ruth 3:18

• Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.

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4. Humility

• He ran to prisoners seeking aid• Most likely he knew something

of Paul and Silas• He knew he could not save

himself

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Acts 2:40

• “And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.”

• In an humble frame of mind, one is teachable

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Acts 16:30

• “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

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5. “What must I do to be saved”

• He was asking about salvation and not how to spare his life

• People today must go to the right source

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Jn. 14:6

• Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me

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Acts 16:31

• And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

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6. The right answer

• This was the starting point• Please note that he was not

saved by faith alone

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Heb. 11:6

• But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

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Acts 16:32

• And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house

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7. The Gospel Preached

• He could not believe until he knew what to believe

• Rom. 10:17• “So then faith cometh by

hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

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• The specific things Paul taught are not listed

• Whatever this man had to do in order to be saved was included in Paul’s teaching (This would apply to all lost souls)

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Acts 16:33-34

• And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

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8. Obedience and rejoicing

• He obeyed the commands of the gospel

• “washed stripes” = sign of repentance

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2 Cor. 7:10

• For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

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Acts 2:38

• Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

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Acts 8:35-36

• Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

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2 Cor. 5:17

• Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

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Conclusion

• From this account we can see what souls must do in order to be saved

• Gal. 3:26-28• 2 Cor. 6:2

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References

• Major points taken and adapted from material by James Boyd in “A Burning Fire” (I do not remember the specific volume)