THE PHILIPPIAN JAILER.

: New Testament Stories

Paul and Silas were in prison. They had done no wrong, but wicked men

had taken them before the magistrates; and the magistrates had caused

them to be severely beaten, and afterwards had sent them to prison,

where they were securely fastened in an inner dungeon, and their feet

made fast in the stocks. This was a most painful position for Paul and

Silas. But they were not unhappy. They prayed to God, and sang praises

to Him; and they sang so heartily that the other prisoners heard them.

It was midnight, and all was dark in the prison. But suddenly there

was an earthquake; so that the foundations of the prison were shaken,

all the doors were opened, and every one's bonds were loosed. All the

prisoners might have run away had they been minded to do so.



The keeper of the prison had been sleeping, but the earthquake awoke

him. When he saw the doors open, he supposed that all the prisoners

had fled; and knowing how severely he would be punished on that

account, he drew his sword to kill himself. Paul knew this, and called

out loudly, "Do thyself no harm, for we are all here." Then the

keeper, who but a little while before had cruelly treated Paul and

Silas, came trembling, and fell down before them, and said, "Sirs,

what must I do to be saved?" He was afraid because of his sins; and

wanted to know how he might be saved from the fearful consequences of

sin. Paul's answer was, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou

shalt be saved." Then Paul and Silas spoke to him about Jesus. He

believed, and was baptized; and the next morning the two disciples

were set at liberty.