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. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the door open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 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, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
Acts 16:26-30
Paul and Silas left a powerful example for us to see in this passage. It is an example of the power of Christ within the Christian. It is an example of the new man overriding the old man. It is an example for us to follow.
Paul and Silas had been put in prison. There then came a “great earthquake” that shook the foundation of the prison and opened the doors. Naturally, one would think that a prison full of open would spell disaster for the keeper of the prison. He certainly thought that, and drew his sword to kill himself. Most men, myself probably included, would have literally jumped at the chance to escape the prison.
But Paul and Silas were different. They comforted the jailor and told him that all of the prisoners were still present and accounted for. In short, they did the right thing. The people who put them into prison had done the wrong thing. But that didn’t stop them. They were determined to do right. And their determination to do right was such a powerful testimony that the jailor (and his family) ended up coming to Christ because of it.
They simply did the right thing and it made all the difference. And doing the right thing still does make all the difference.
Justified Freely 