Acts 16: 16-34

It was the most frightening night of my life. I took my turn in the front rank to fight the Thracians, but in battle, you’re part of a unit. The guys have your back. On this night, it was just me. My life was on the line. I pulled my gladius and stood for a minute, looking at the freshly sharpened blade. I was ready to fall on my sword. Why, you ask?

I first met Paul and Silas when they were hauled into the forum, right in the heart of Philippi. Claudius was irate; beside himself. His slave-girl was ruined. No one knows how much money he made off her fortune-telling. But that girl was good. She had a connection with the spirit-world. I never saw a more reliable fortune-teller.

Later I heard what happened. Claudius’ fortune-teller was following Paul and Silas. Every time they headed out to the Jewish place of prayer, she shouted, “These men are servants of the Most High God.” She usually added, “They’re telling you the way to be saved.” She yelled it every time she saw them. It irritated Claudius, her owner. Her yelling also annoyed Paul. It really got under his skin.

Later I learned that the Lord Jesus never liked evil spirits calling his name. Paul also got annoyed with fortune-tellers and spiritists calling him out. He doesn’t trust any spirit but the HS! And let me tell you, Paul has a connection with God the HS! He is so in step with the HS – that’s what I want to be like as I grow in faith. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

When Claudius pressed charges against Paul and Silas for driving the evil spirit out of his slave girl, the magistrates didn’t let Paul and Silas say anything. Didn’t listen to a word they said. Just stripped their clothes off, tied them to the whipping post, and had them flogged.

That’s when they got dumped on me. I got my orders, “don’t let Paul and Silas escape.” So I put them in the dark, dank inner cell with the most dangerous thugs. I forced them down on the sweating stone floor and locked their legs in stocks. Their backs were bloody and ripped to shreds from the flogging, but I left them there. I locked the door firmly.

At night, I double-checked the locks and went to bed with my family. I slept, but not well. It wasn’t the usual hollering from rowdy prisoners. It wasn’t the usual noise from the drunk tank. Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God.

After a few minutes, the other prisoners stopped cursing them and yelling at them to shut-up. Everyone just listened. I never heard the jail so peaceful and quiet. Paul and Silas brought a taste of God’s kingdom to the jail in Philippi.

Then the earthquake struck. Here in Philippi we get these from time to time. They’ve rebuilt this city more times than I can count. This wasn’t The Big One, but it was strong enough to shake everyone awake. It was enough to shake the foundations of the prison and break the locks. Somehow the stocks flew open and even the heaviest iron the manacles fell off.

You’d expect every prisoner to run. They were all loose. Even if my slaves helped, I couldn’t hope to catch more than 2-3 of them.

You know how shameful that would be? If anyone escapes, jailers face the same punishment that escaped prisoners did. Floggings, humiliation, and in the worst cases: crucifixion. I couldn’t face it. I drew my gladius, whispered a prayer to Zeus, and prepared to end it all. It was the darkest, most frightening moment of my life.

I can still hear Paul’s shout. Couple years later, I retold this story to Luke the doctor for some book he was writing. Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We’re all here.”

When I went in, he was right. In the calm of their praying and singing, in the taste of God’s kingdom, the prisoners were all still there. Shaken up by the earthquake, but nobody ran.

Suddenly I knew what I wanted. I wanted the peace and assurance of Paul and Silas. I wanted their confidence in a dark spot. I had to hear more of the kingdom of God, more about Jesus, more about this good news.

I remember what I said after I ran into the darkness of the inner cell. Paul and Silas were still sitting on the damp floor rubbing their legs which were still asleep from being in the stocks. I fell on my knees, trembling with fear and shock.

As they hobbled out, I addressed them with great respect, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Acts 16:31 (NIV)

As I washed the blood off their backs and treated their wounds with wine and ointment – I have some experience as a legionnaire – they told me and my wife, my kids, and my slaves the whole gospel.

Jesus is the Son of the living God. He’s not just Lord of the Jews. He the Christ and rescuer for everyone.

To be honest: In the dark of night, I see the faces of all the people I killed as a legionnaire. I remember the women I used and abused especially after I’d been drinking. I remember cheating and bribing officers to avoid latrine duty and get special privileges. It made me feel ashamed and worthless. I felt the sin and shame and guilt that seems to haunt everyone. Can you relate?

And there’s the peace that Paul and Silas seem to carry with them. They talked about Jesus shouldering our guilt and shame. They talked about Jesus battling the powers of sin and darkness. They talked about Jesus’ crucifixion as punishment, not for letting prisoners escape, but as a sacrifice to free all people of the punishment for our sin and wrongdoing.

Listen to the most incredible thing: after Jesus died on his cross, he rose to life 3 days later! Just like all the doors of the prison burst open in the earthquake, Jesus’ grave opened up, the stone was rolled away. Jesus wasn’t there. He has risen!

Jesus’ resurrection means new life for all who believe. It means peace and forgiveness. It means believers can pray and sing to Jesus even in a dark cell with painful, bleeding backs. Because Jesus rose from the grave, I found peace and forgiveness with God. It’s even improving my relationship with my wife and kids. No more thoughts about falling on my sword. I got something to live for!

When my slave brought another jug of water – I used a lot of water to wash Paul and Silas clean from their flogging and night in the stocks. When my slave brought water, then: As a sign of dying to sin and guilt and rising to life with Christ, we didn’t even go down to the Place of Prayer by the river. Right then and there, with water from that jug, Paul baptized me and my whole household.

It’s kinda my birthday. The start of my new life. Even my long-suffering wife says I’m a new man, a better man, a more loving husband, because of the changes the HS brings.

Now I lived long ago and far away. I don’t really have much I can teach you. I wish I could explain the gospel the way Paul and Silas could. Sure, Paul was the quickest to talk and teach – and wow did he know a lot of the Hebrew OT and complicated theology. But I had a good talk with Silas. He’s quieter than Paul, but boy does his faith run deep! You should hear him sing ... and pray! He prays like Jesus is sitting right beside him.

All I can say is, in the dark night of the soul, when it feels like you’re all alone and you’re facing all kinds of trouble in the morning, don’t despair. God made you; you bear his image. By faith in Jesus’ resurrection you can be safe and secure, no matter what lies ahead. By faith in Jesus’ resurrection, you are a citizen of God’s kingdom – that has better perks than becoming a citizenship in Rome – and it doesn’t take 25 brutal years as a legionnaire!

It takes faith in Jesus. With faith in Jesus, you’re a citizen of his kingdom, a brother or sister in his family, and a member of his body. Whatever you face in the morning, Jesus has rescued you. You’re okay. Jesus’ heavenly Father is your heavenly Father.