The Conversion of a Jailor

Piedmont church of Christ

In the Book of Acts we find many accounts of people hearing the Word of God and responding to the Gospel Call. These things are written so that we may have examples and encouragements to likewise obey God in all things. Each person who has put on Christ in baptism (Gal. 3.27) has answered the Gospel Call, as Paul stated “Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” 2Thess. 2:14. When we respond to the call of the Gospel, we know one day we will live forever with Christ.

Paul and Silas were traveling through Greece preaching the Gospel when they were arrested in Philippi for preaching Christ (Acts 16). After worshipping God while in prison, the Lord caused an earthquake to jar open the door of the prison for Paul and Silas to escape (Acts 16.25-28). The Jailor, astonished at this, cried out to them, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Acts 16.30. Paul’s answer was “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house” Acts 16.31.

Unfortunately, so many people in the religious world insist on stopping at this verse and falsely claiming that all a person must do to be saved is believe in Jesus. Yet this is not what happens in this account. This Jailor does not know anything about Jesus. He has not even heard the saving Gospel yet, nor does he know of Jesus’ sacrifice upon the cross for his sins. All he has seen is this mighty earthquake. The following verse bear this out: “And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house” Acts 16.32. What happens next might surprise many people. “And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway” Acts 16:33.

This jailor was baptized! Why? Because Jesus stated, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be condemned” Mark 16:16. This man heard the Gospel, believed what he heard, and was baptized according to it. This man was baptized “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2.38) in order to have his sins washed away, Acts 22.16, in order to “put on Christ” (Gal. 3.27), in order to die unto sins and be risen with Christ, (Rom. 6.3-4), in order to be added to Christ’s body, the church (1 Cor. 12.13). He was not saved, and then showed his faith by being baptized, as this is not what Jesus or the Inspired Apostles teach about salvation. A person who believes is then baptized and then saved. This is what Jesus taught. Do you believe it?

The Piedmont church of Christ, 118 Madison Ave., invites to you worship with us this coming Sunday. We promise to teach God’s word only with Book, Chapter, and Verse preaching so that you can determine for yourself if the things you are hearing are true. May we never “Teach for doctrines the commandments of men” Matthew 15:9.