PM Acts 16:16-40 Faith Alone

[0:00] Well let's turn now to that passage in Acts 16 and I'll read again verse 31 by way of text.

[0:29] In 1737 the great American preacher Jonathan Edwards published a book entitled A Faithful Narrative of the Surprising Work of God in the Conversion of Many Hundreds of Souls in Northampton.

[0:55] Usually abbreviated to a narrative of surprising conversions. It describes the revival that began in his church in Northampton, New England in 1734.

[1:15] It's available in modern reprint from the Banner of Truth and it's well worth reading. Well the Acts of the Apostles could be described as a narrative of surprising conversions.

[1:31] Right at the beginning there's the conversion of those 3,000 souls on the day of Pentecost.

[1:43] How surprising that is. Just seven weeks earlier the crowds in Jerusalem had been crying out for Jesus to be crucified.

[1:59] And now here they are queuing up to be baptized. A little later in Acts 5 we're told a great many of the priests believed.

[2:14] How surprising is that? The priests were at the forefront of opposition to Jesus. And here they are effectively voting for their own redundancy.

[2:25] Then in Acts 8 there's the Ethiopian eunuch. Who would have thought that a court official from far away Africa would be converted on the desert road to Gaza.

[2:43] Where all the trouble is now. Then in Acts 9 Paul himself. The chief persecutor becomes a preacher.

[2:54] That took everyone by surprise. Then Cornelius. Roman centurion in Acts 10. That was a surprise even to Peter who preached to him.

[3:12] Well here in Acts 16 you have another amazing conversion. The Philippian jailer. Just a few hours earlier he had been fastening Paul and Silas' feet in the stocks.

[3:32] Now he's down at their feet. Asking them what must I do to be saved. All these conversions show the mighty power of God.

[3:46] Who can save anyone he wishes. At any time. And in any way. And they give us hope.

[3:57] That surprising conversions are possible. Even today. Even today. And even here. In Dumfries. The unlikeest of people.

[4:12] Can be saved. And our text shows us how. Simply. By faith. In Christ. Christ. I mentioned this morning.

[4:26] Those five watchwords of the Reformation. Scripture alone. Christ alone. Grace alone. Faith alone. For the glory of God alone.

[4:37] Well here is a vivid illustration. Of the fourth of them. By faith. Alone. I want us to.

[4:50] Look tonight. At the Philippian. Jailer's story. And then come back. To that great principle. The one and only.

[5:01] Way of salvation. Through faith. First let me. Remind you. Briefly. Of the background.

[5:13] Paul and Silas. Have come to Philippi. In obedience. To a vision. A man of Macedonia. Saying. Come over. And help us.

[5:26] Luke is now with them. Making this. A first hand. A first hand. Account. Their first convert. Was Lydia.

[5:37] Who we looked at. Last time I was preaching. The purple seller. From Thyatira. Converted. Converted. By the riverside. Back in.

[5:49] Verse 14. I described that. Last time. As a quiet. Conversion. Well now you have another conversion.

[6:01] Which is anything but quiet. Lydia. And the jailer. Were the first and last. Converts. On this mission.

[6:13] And they're quite different. One quiet. One dramatic. And yet they are both. Saved by faith.

[6:25] So let's look then at the jailer's story. And it all begins with this slave girl. In verses 16 to 18. As we were going to the place of prayer.

[6:38] We were met. By a slave girl. Who had a spirit of divination. And brought her owners. Much profit. By fortune telling. In the Greek.

[6:50] It says she had a python. A snake. The spirit. Presumably. Wrapping itself. Around her soul.

[7:01] Gripping her. Controlling her. Satan. Remember. Is described as a serpent. In Genesis 3. Day after day.

[7:15] This girl followed Paul. Crying out. These men are servants of the most high God. Who proclaim to you. The way. Of salvation. You might think.

[7:26] That Paul would be pleased. What she said was true. And to have. Even the devil. Acknowledging. That it was true. Surely.

[7:37] That was a great victory. But no. He is greatly annoyed. Turns and says to the spirit.

[7:48] I command you. In the name of Jesus Christ. To come out of her. And it came out. That very hour. Why was he so annoyed? Well.

[7:59] Because he didn't want. The testimony. Of Satan. That would only have. Caused confusion. People would think. That he was somehow.

[8:10] In league. With this slave girl. And with the evil spirit. Inside her. Jesus had. Refused. To let the demons. Testify of him.

[8:22] Paul does the same. Now I hope this. Slave girl was pleased. I hope she was converted. But we're.

[8:34] Not actually told. Her reaction. What we are told. Is her. Owner's. Reaction. And they were annoyed.

[8:46] They'd been making money. Out of her. Fortune telling. Is big business today. Isn't it? I dare say. There are fortune tellers. Down the road. At the moment. At the fair.

[8:59] It was big business then. And this girl. Was a gold mine. That spirit. Being driven out of her. That was losing.

[9:10] Their money. And straight away. They take their revenge. Verse 19. They seized. Paul and Silas. And dragged them. Into the marketplace. Before.

[9:21] The rulers. Marketplace. Marketplace. Of course. Not like our marketplaces today. Simply places. Of buying and selling. That was the very.

[9:32] Center. Of civil society. And that was where. The magistrates. Courts. Would be held. And they. Lay.

[9:43] A false. Accusation. Against them. These men are Jews. And are disturbing. Our city. They advocate. They advocate customs. That are not lawful.

[9:54] For us as Romans. To accept. Or practice. There's maybe a little bit. Of anti-Semitism there. These men are Jews. The Jews have had to put up.

[10:07] With a lot of this. Down through the ages. They still do today. It's one of the most. Terrible things. About this. Past. Couple of years. With the whole.

[10:17] Crisis in Gaza. Is the anti-Semitism. That it has churned up. Even in this country. But they're also charging them.

[10:29] With being. Anti-Roman. Now it's quite true. Saying Jesus is Lord. As Paul does.

[10:41] In his letter. To the Philippians. And as he did. No doubt. In his preaching. That could be seen. As a challenge. To Caesar. But they hadn't really.

[10:52] Advocated. Any. Anti-Roman. Customs. This was just. A cover up. For their real motive. Which was. Revenge.

[11:05] The crowd. Join in. And the magistrates. Rather like. Pontius Pilate. Give way. They tore off.

[11:15] Their garments. And gave orders. To beat them. With rods. Threw them. Into prison. Giving the jailer. A command. To keep them. Securely. It's all. Grossly. Unfair.

[11:26] And it is. Rather reminiscent. Of the trial. Of Jesus. Remember. He too. Was. Accused. Of being. Anti-Roman. Among. Many. Other things.

[11:38] The priest. Said to Pilate. If you let this man. Go. You're not a friend. Of Caesar. Caesar. Crowds. Joined in there. As well. Crying out.

[11:48] Crucify him. And Pilate. Of course. Gave way. So Paul. Is. Very much. Walking. In his master's. Footsteps. Now.

[12:01] It's at this point. That we meet. The jailer. Probably. A Roman soldier. He dutifully. Does. As he's told. Puts them.

[12:13] In the. Innermost prison. Fastens their feet. In the stocks. They're not getting out of this. Even Houdini. Couldn't escape.

[12:24] From that prison. And he settles down. For a good night's sleep. Job done. Must have been a terrible experience.

[12:37] For Paul and Silas. Bruised. And battered. Locked away. In a dark cell. I think. I would just slump down.

[12:48] On the floor. Exhausted. And in despair. But not Paul and Silas. At midnight. Verse 25.

[12:58] Paul and Silas. Were praying. And singing. Hymns to God. And the prisoners. Were listening to them. In Job.

[13:10] 35. And verse 10. Elihu says. That God gives. Songs. In the night. And here is a literal.

[13:20] Fulfillment of that. The context there. In Job. Incidentally. Is oppression. Well here are two. Oppressed men. Singing songs.

[13:32] In the night. It's interesting. At this point. To compare. With Peter's experience. When he was thrown.

[13:42] Into prison. We read there. Earlier. How. He was imprisoned. And chained up. Between. Two soldiers.

[13:57] And he sleeps soundly. At perfect peace. God is able. To give us peace. Even in the most terrible. Of circumstances.

[14:10] Paul and Silas. In contrast. They're not sleeping. They're singing. God can equally. Give us joy. In the darkest.

[14:21] Of circumstances. Quiet faith. Songs of praise. God gives us both. Once again.

[14:35] Singing like this. They're walking in the steps. Of their master. Do you remember. That he sang a hymn. Probably Psalm 118. At the last supper.

[14:46] There he is. Knowing that he's about. To be crucified. And he sings. Praises to God. And even on the cross. Jesus did not.

[14:58] Sing on the cross. But he did quote the Psalms. Quoted Psalm 22. And Psalm 31. The Psalms always have been.

[15:10] A great strength. In times of trouble. Jesus said. To rejoice. Jesus said. To rejoice. When men persecute you. Well.

[15:20] Paul and Silas. Are doing. Precisely that. I wonder what the other prisoners thought. I wonder if any of them were converted. As they.

[15:31] Heard them singing. The mighty works of God. God. But then everything changes. Suddenly there was a great earthquake.

[15:44] So that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened. And everyone's bonds were unfastened. Again interesting to compare with Peter.

[15:58] When Peter was in prison. God sent an angel to deliver him. When Paul is in prison. He sends an earthquake. That's how powerful our God is.

[16:11] He's not limited. By squads of soldiers. Or by stocks. Or any human devices. He liberates these prisoners.

[16:26] No one could have escaped by themselves. But God has set them free. If they wish to go. Now that in itself.

[16:37] Is a powerful picture. Of salvation. This earthquake. Broke the bonds. Of these prisoners. And likewise.

[16:48] The earthquake of Calvary. Has set us free. From the prison house of sin. That same salvation.

[16:59] Is about to come. To the Philippian jailer. Now he hadn't been listening. To Paul and Silas singing. He'd been sleeping.

[17:10] Completely indifferent to it all. But now he's woken up. Woken up. Woken up by an earthquake. And his first thought.

[17:21] Is to kill himself. He thinks the prisoners have escaped. And he will be held accountable. And he would. When Peter escaped.

[17:33] At the end of Acts 12. We read that. His jailers. Were actually executed. Paul's jailer.

[17:44] Is saved. First thing Paul does. Is to stop him. From committing suicide. Cries out with a loud voice. Do not harm yourself.

[17:54] For we are all here. That by the way. Is. What our cry should be. When people are thinking. Of ending it all. Do not harm yourself.

[18:09] Not helping them along. As the proposed new law. Would have us do. Jailer calls for lights. Rushes in.

[18:19] Falls down before Paul and Silas. And asks that great question. What must I do. To be saved. Saved. On the day of Pentecost.

[18:33] The crowds had asked. What shall we do. Here it's more precise. And more personal.

[18:45] What must I do. To be saved. The most important question. Anyone can ever ask.

[18:57] What did he mean by it. How much did he understand. There are people. Who have suggested. That he just wanted. To be saved. From the earthquake.

[19:09] But the earthquake. Was over. Some people have suggested. That he just wanted. To be saved. From the consequences. Of being executed. By the authorities. But the prisoners.

[19:22] Were still there. I think. He knew. Exactly. What he was asking. He knew.

[19:34] What these men. Had been preaching. He may even. Have heard them preaching. He must certainly. Have heard about them. He may well.

[19:45] Have heard. What was said. At the trial. He knew. That they were. Preaching. Salvation. And he wants. To be saved. He wants.

[19:55] To be saved. From his sins. He knows. He's a sinner. At the very least. He knows. That he's mistreated.

[20:05] These prisoners. And how many. Hundreds. Of other prisoners. Before. He knows. That he's full. Of cruelty. And how many.

[20:17] Other sins. Was he guilty. Of. That earthquake. Was telling him. That. God. Is on. Paul's. Side.

[20:28] Listen. To him. And it was. A warning. To him. God. Is powerful. And one day.

[20:39] You will. Be judged. He wants. To be saved. Desperately. Wants. To be saved. And Paul. Tells him. How?

[20:49] Believe. Believe. Believe. On. The Lord. Jesus. Some translations. Have you. Believe. On. The Lord. Jesus. Christ. And you.

[21:01] Will be saved. You. And your. Household. It's a wonderfully. Simple answer. And probably. Not what he was. Expecting. As a Roman.

[21:14] He. Might have been. Expected. To. Go. And offer. Incense. To Paul's God. That's. What. Romans. Did. Or.

[21:26] Maybe. Since. These men. Were Jews. He was. Expecting. To be told. To. Go. And keep. The law. Of Moses. He's.

[21:37] Certainly. Expecting. To. Do. Something. Perhaps. Like. Naaman. The Syrian. He was. Expecting. To be. Told. To do. Something. Great.

[21:49] But. All. He's. Told. To do. Is. Believe. That's. All. Nothing. More. Christ.

[22:01] Is. Our. Saviour. He. Has. Done. Everything. He. Died. On. The cross. For. Our. Sins. What. Are. You. Going. To. Add. To. That.

[22:13] All. We. Have. To. Do. Is. Trust. In. Him. It's. A. Very. Simple. Answer. But. It. Did. Need. Explanation. Paul.

[22:24] Doesn't. Like. Some. Modern. Evangelists. Just. Say. To him. Now. Repeat. After. Me. The. Words. Of. This. Prayer. And. You're. Saved. No. He. Takes. The. Time. To. Teach.

[22:34] Him. To. Make. Sure. That. He. Understands. What. He. Is. Doing. That. He. Understands. The. Gospel. So. In. Verse. 32. They. Spoke. The. Word. Of. The. Lord. To. Him. And.

[22:45] To. All. Who. Were. In. His. House. It's. A. Wonderful. Picture. Isn't it? By now. It. Must. Have. Been. 1am. But. Here's. Paul. And. Silas.

[22:56] Battered. And. Bruised. Preaching. The. Gospel. And. Here. Is. The. Jailor. And. All. His. Family. They. Must. Have. Got. Them. Out. Of. Bed. Must. They.

[23:07] Eagerly. Listening. To. Him. Time. Doesn't. Matter. This. Couldn't. Wait. Till. The. Morning. This. Is. Too. Important. As.

[23:20] With. Lydia. We. Don't. Know. Who. Was. In. That. Household. Probably. His. Family. But. Probably. Also. There. Would. Be. Some. Servants. But.

[23:31] They're. Not. Saved. Notice. Simply. Because. They. Are. His. Household. Paul. Is. Not. Saying. If. You. Believe. Your. Family. Will. Be. Saved.

[23:41] As. Well. What. He's. Saying. Is. That. This. Gospel. Is. Both. For. You. And. For. Your. Family. And.

[23:52] Therefore. They. Need. To. Hear. It. Obviously. The. Jailer. Wants. His. Family. Saved. That's. Why. He. Gathers. Them. Together. To. Hear.

[24:02] The. Gospel. And. We. Ought. To. Be. Equally. Keen. Didn't. Wait. For. Our. Families. To. Be. Saved. And. I. Know. That. Those. Of. You. Who. Are. Parents. You. Are. Keen. For. Your.

[24:12] Children. To. Know. The. Gospel. And. You. Go. To. Great. Length. To. Ensure. That. They. Are. Taught. The. Gospel. And. That's. Right. The.

[24:23] Whole. Of. This. Household. They. All. Hear. The. Gospel. And. They. All. Believe. Straight.

[24:33] Away. The. Jailer. Shows. The. Reality. Of. His. Faith. By. Was. Their. Wounds. And. Then. He. Himself. We. Might. Say. Is. Washed. He.

[24:44] Is. Baptized. At. Once. He. And. All. His. Family. That's. What. The. Lord. Commanded. Make. Disciples. And. Baptize. Them. That's. What. Paul.

[24:54] Did. They. Go. Up. Into. The. House. For. A. Meal. And. There's. Great. Rejoicing. A. Wonderful. Conversion. Has.

[25:05] Taken. Place. An. Earthquake. Has. Taken. Place. In. This. Jailer's. Life. And. His. Life. Now. Was. Changed. Forever. And.

[25:17] What. A. Change. This. Rough. Roman. Soldier. Washing. Their. Wounds. This. Brutal. Jailer. Offering. Them. Food.

[25:28] This. Former. Pagan. Rejoicing. In. God. Here. Is. A. Man. Who. Has. Been. Born. Again. The.

[25:38] Sequel. Seems. Rather. Mundane. But. It. Is. Important. To. Show. Paul's. Sense. Of. Justice. Magistrates. Send. A. Message. To. Let. These. People.

[25:48] Go. Paul. Says. No. They. Beat. Us. Publicly. Uncondemned. Romans. Now. They. Want. To. Send. Us. Away. Secretly. No. Let. Them. Come. And. Publicly. Set. Us. Free.

[26:01] Injustice. Must. Never. Be. Swept. Under. The. Carpet. Either. Then. Or. Now. Magistrates. Are. Afraid. Now. Now.

[26:12] That. They. Know. That. They. Are. Roman. Citizens. Paul. Had. Roman. Citizenship. Probably. Because. Of. Being. Born. In. Tarsus. Apparently. Silas. Did. Too. It.

[26:23] Was. Against. The. Law. To. Beat. A. Roman. Without. A. Proper. Trial. These. Magistrates. Were. Potentially. In. Big. Trouble. They.

[26:33] Come. And. They. Apologize. And. They. Ask. Them. To. Leave. And. So. They. Depart. But. Only. After. Visiting. Lydia's. House. And. Encouraging. The.

[26:43] Brothers. There. Brothers. Notice. Plural. Presumably. There. Had. Been. More. Conversions. In. The. Meant. And. No. Doubt. They. Had. Been. Praying. When.

[26:59] He. Was. Set. Free. He. Went. To. The. House. Of. John. Mark. Where. Many. Were. Praying. The.

[27:09] Story. Began. With. A. Girl. Delivered. From. An. Evil. Spirit. It. Ends. With. Paul. And. Silas. Delivered.

[27:20] From. Prison. And. In. Between. The. Philippian. Jailer. Is. Delivered. From. His. Sins. But.

[27:32] Now. Let's. Come. Back. Briefly. As. We. Draw. To. A. Close. To. Verse. 31. And. The. Way. Of. Salvation. Believe. On.

[27:42] The. Lord. Jesus. And. You. Will. Be. Saved. How. Important. That. Is. Vital. That. We. Take.

[27:53] In. The. Meaning. Of. Those. Words. And. That's. Why. I. Want. To. Bring. Them. Those. Of. This. Service. Whoever. You. Are. Whether.

[28:04] You're. A. Religious. Person. Like. Lydia. Or. A. Rough. Pagan. Like. The. Philippian. Jailor. Whether. You're. A Jew. Or. A Gentile. Or. Rich. Or.

[28:15] Poor. Or. A man. Or. A woman. Or. Young. Or. Old. There. Is. One. Way. Of. Salvation. And. One. Way. Only. And. That. Is. Through. Faith.

[28:26] In. Christ. The. Bible. Teaches. Us. Plainly. That. Everyone. In. The. World. Needs. Salvation. Paul.

[28:38] Says. In. Romans. 3. 23. All. Have. Sinned. And. Come. Short. Of. The. Glory. Of. God. We're. All. Guilty. Before. God. We're.

[28:49] All. Facing. God's. Judgment. And. No. One. In. The. World. Can. Save. Themselves. No. Matter. How. Hard. We. Try. With. Good. Works.

[29:00] Rituals. Or. Whatever. But. God. In. His. Love. Has. Sent. His. Son. To. Die. For. Our. Sins. Laying. Down.

[29:10] His. Life. As. A. Sacrifice. For. Sin. And. Rising. Again. And. That. Salvation. Comes. To. Us. Simply. By.

[29:21] Trusting. In. Him. Paul. Says. In. Romans. 3. 28. We. Are. Justified. By. Faith. Without. The. Works. Of. The. Law. Now.

[29:34] You. May. Say. What. About. Repentance. I. Have. Made. Comparisons. With. Peter. Well. When. Peter. Was. Confronted. With. A. Similar. Question. His. Answer.

[29:44] Was. Repent. And. Be. Baptized. Jesus. Himself. Preached. John. 1. 15. Repent. And. Believe. The. Gospel.

[29:56] He. Commanded. In. Luke. 24. 46. That. Repentance. And. Forgiveness. Of. Sins. Be. Preached. To. All. Nations. Which.

[30:07] Is. It. Then. Repent. Or. Believe. Well. I. Would. Argue. That. There. Is. No. Contradiction. Because. Repentance. And. Faith. Inevitably. Go. Together.

[30:19] They're. Part. Of. The. Same. Process. Repentance. Means. Turning. And. The. Most. Basic. Turning. Is. From. Unbelief. To.

[30:29] Faith. On. The. Day. Of. Pentecost. Peter. Is. Preaching. In. Jerusalem. Where. Christ. Was. Crucified. He's.

[30:39] Just. Said. God. Has. Made. This. Jesus. Whom. You. Crucified. Both. Lord. And. Christ. And. They're. Cut. To. The. Heart. Peter. Is. Calling. Them.

[30:49] To. Repent. Of. Their. Past. Rejection. Of. Christ. And. Turn. To. The. Savior. As. For. Baptism. That. Was. Simply.

[31:00] An. Expression. Of. That. Faith. The. Philippian. Jailer. Was. Certainly. Penitent. He.

[31:13] Had. Turned. From. Unbelief. To. Faith. He. Had. Turned. From. Cruelty. To. Kindness. There.

[31:24] Was. Repentance. In. His. Life. And. He. Of course. Was. Also. Baptized. But. At. The. Heart. Of. It. All. Was. Faith.

[31:37] Now. Paul's. Gospel. Is. Still. Our. Gospel. Today. Believe. In. The. Lord. Jesus. And. You. Will. Be. Saved. True.

[31:48] Saving. Faith. Is. Of course. More. Than. Just. An. Intellectual. Ascent. The. Slave. Girl. Knew. That. The. Gospel. Was. True. Merely. Knowing.

[31:58] The. Gospel. Won't. Save. You. The. Reformers. Used. To. Say. That. Saving. Faith. Had. Three. Elements. Knowledge. Agreement. And. Trust. There. Must.

[32:09] Be. A. Wholehearted. Trust. In. Christ. And. In. Him. Alone. Not. In. Christ. Plus. Anything. Else. Christ. But.

[32:19] In. Christ. Alone. This. Gospel. Is. A. Very. Personal. Gospel. The. Jailer. Asked. A. Personal. Question. What. Must. I. Do.

[32:30] To. Be. Saved. And. He. Gets. A. Very. Personal. Answer. Believe. In. The. Lord. Jesus. And. You. Mr. Jailer. You. Will. Be. Saved. Even. You.

[32:41] With. All. Your. Sins. Even. You. Who. Once. Fastened. The. Apostles. Feet. In. The. Stocks. And. We. Can. Give.

[32:51] That. Same. Answer. To. People. Today. Whoever. You. Are. Whatever. You. Done. Believe. In. Jesus. And. You. Will. Be. Saved.

[33:03] God. So. Loved. The. World. That. He. Gave. His. Only. Son. That. Whoever. Believes. Even. You. Will. Not. Perish. But. Have. Everlasting.

[33:13] Life. And. That. Promise. Is. Certain. You. Will. Be. Saved. Not. You. May. Be. Saved. But. You. Will. Be.

[33:23] Saved. God. Gives. You. His. Word. For. That. Each. Of. Us. Knows. Our. Own. Heart. I.

[33:34] Ask. You. As. We. Close. This. Service. Have. You. Responded. Personally. To. That. Gospel. Have. You. Personally. Trusted.

[33:45] In. Christ. Alone. For. Your. Salvation. May. Everyone. Here. Have. Faith. In. Christ. To.

[33:55] Be. Saved. And. May. Many. More. In. This. Area. Of. Dumfries. And. Throughout. Scotland. Come. To. Faith. In. Jesus. And.

[34:06] Know. This. Wonderful. Salvation. Amen. Thank you.

[34:17]