In brief
The Philippian jailer is the prison guard in charge of Paul and Silas, who were beaten and thrown into the inner prison of this Macedonian city. Around midnight, while the two men pray and sing, an earthquake opens the doors. The jailer is about to kill himself, but Paul stops him. He then asks how to be saved, believes in the Lord Jesus and is baptized with all his household. His conversion is sudden and joyful.
What does the name The Philippian Jailer mean?
The Bible does not give his name. It calls him by his office, the jailer, the guard of the prison of Philippi, which Luke describes as a city of Macedonia, the foremost of the district, a Roman colony (Acts 16:12).
The story of The Philippian Jailer
Paul and Silas entrusted to the jailer
Acts 16:19-24After a slave girl with a spirit of divination is set free, her masters drag Paul and Silas before the magistrates. The crowd rises up, they are beaten with rods and thrown into prison, with the jailer charged to keep them safely. He puts them into the inner prison and secures their feet in the stocks.
Praise at midnight and an earthquake
Acts 16:25-26About midnight, Paul and Silas are praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners are listening to them. Suddenly there is a great earthquake that shakes the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors open and everyone's bonds are loosened.
“Don’t harm yourself”
Acts 16:27-29The jailer wakes up and sees the doors open. Supposing that the prisoners have escaped, he draws his sword and is about to kill himself. Paul cries out with a loud voice: “Don’t harm yourself, for we are all here!” The jailer calls for lights, springs in and falls down trembling before Paul and Silas.
The question of salvation
Acts 16:30-32He brings them out and asks, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They answer, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they speak the word of the Lord to him and to all who are in his house.
Baptized and full of joy
Acts 16:33-34The same hour of the night, the jailer takes Paul and Silas and washes their wounds. He is immediately baptized, he and all his household. He then brings them up into his house, sets food before them and rejoices greatly with all his household, having believed in God.
Go in peace
Acts 16:35-40At daybreak, the magistrates send the sergeants to release the prisoners. The jailer reports to Paul that he may now come out and go in peace. Paul points out that they are Romans and asks that the magistrates come themselves to bring them out. They come and appease them, and Paul and Silas visit Lydia before leaving.
Test your knowledge
What The Philippian Jailer teaches us
- Praise in the midst of trial can become a testimony to those who are listening.
- The most important question remains the jailer's: what must I do to be saved?
- The answer of the Gospel is simple: believe in the Lord Jesus.
- Salvation received shows at once in actions: the jailer washes the wounds of those he guarded.
- Conversion brings a joy that reaches a whole household.
Key verses
The jailer's question receives a clear answer. Salvation is not bought by works: it is received by believing in the Lord Jesus, and this promise reaches his household.
The night that was about to end in suicide ends with a meal and great joy. The jailer rejoices with all his household that he has believed in God.
Paul and Silas pray and sing in the depth of the night, with their feet in the stocks. Their praise comes before the earthquake and the jailer's conversion.
Sermons about The Philippian Jailer
- Acts 16: Come Out of Your Prison, Freedom Is Found Only in JesusThe pastor notes the paradox of the story: the prisoners are free, and the free man is a prisoner of what has just happened. He sees in the jailer's question the best question in the world.
- Dare to Believe: Hear, Obey, PersevereStarting from the answer given to the jailer, the message reminds us that faith is not a family inheritance: each member of the household must personally believe in the Lord Jesus.
- Discerning the Will of God According to Romans 12:2The preacher notes that God's will led Paul and Silas into an uncomfortable prison, yet in the middle of their praise the doors opened and the jailer was baptized with his household.
- Matthew 24: Jesus Is Coming Soon, What Should We Do While We Wait?While waiting for the return of Jesus, the message urges us to go and reach our family, relying on the promise made to the jailer: “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Frequently asked questions
Why did the jailer want to kill himself?
The text gives the reason: he supposed that the prisoners had escaped (Acts 16:27). He had been charged to keep Paul and Silas safely (Acts 16:23). Seeing the open doors, he draws his sword, but Paul stops him by crying out that they are all there.
What does “you and your household” mean?
Paul and Silas promise salvation to the jailer and his household, then speak the word of the Lord to all who are in his house (Acts 16:32). The text then says that he rejoices with all his household that he has believed in God (Acts 16:34). Each one hears the Word and believes.
Where is the story of the Philippian jailer in the Bible?
His story is found in the book of Acts, chapter 16, verses 19 to 40. It follows the conversion of Lydia at Philippi and takes place during the second missionary journey of Paul, who is accompanied by Silas.