Devo Acts 16

Chapter 16
22The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered
them to be stripped and beaten. 23After they had been severely flogged, they
were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.
24Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet
in the stocks. 25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns
to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26Suddenly there was such
a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all
the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. 27The jailer woke
up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to
kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul shouted,
“Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” 29The jailer called for lights, rushed in and
fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs,
what must I do to be saved?” 31They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you
will be saved—you and your household.” 32Then they spoke the word of the Lord
to him and to all the others in his house. 33At that hour of the night the jailer
took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were
baptized. 34The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them;
he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole
family. 35When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer
with the order: “Release those men.” 36The jailer told Paul, “The magistrates have
ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.”

Meditation:
1. Why was the jailer so dramatically affected by Paul and Silas’ behavior?
Picture these scenes: the jailer making his prisoners feel at home with his
family, Paul and Silas baptizing the family, the group eating a festive meal
together, not knowing what would happen to Paul and Silas the next day.
2. Talk to God about what touches me the most in this passage. What does that
tell me about what I need from God? Ask God for that.
3. Paul’s words on salvation to “you and your household” is not a blanket
assurance that one’s children will someday be saved, but as assurance that
they, like us, can find salvation through faith in the Lord. Do I often pray for
the salvation of my family members and mention their names to the Lord?
Pray for each one of them NOW!

Personal Note:
How can Paul and Silas still sing hymns and give thanks to God after they have been beaten and thrown into prison.  The foundation of loving God with everything comes with sincere repentance and personal experience of God.  What touches me the most is Paul and Silas' love the the jailer?  They could have escaped, but the Spirit led them to extend God's grace to the seeking jailer.  I pray for the salvation and spiritual growth of dad, mom, grandma, Lokman, Rena, mom, dad...