GREED disguised as patriotism was the first enemy that the Gospel met in Europe. “The hope of their gain was gone "—that was the real reason for the slave-girl's masters' animosity, though it cloaked itself under a high-minded zeal for the observance of mire Roman customs. The whole procedure before and by the “magistrates “was irregular—" the multitude rose up together against them," and” the magistrates rent their garments off them, and commanded to beat them with rods." The flogging would be merciless, and the jailer, who was probably not selected for his tenderness of heart, would care little for the bleeding, lacerated backs of a couple of stray Jews, or exercise any particular gentleness in thrusting them into the darkest, foulest-smelling chamber, and forcing their feet into the stocks. Never before had such sounds broken the midnight silence of the jail—never before, but how often since The two were praying and singing hymns, . . . and the prisoners were listening to them, and the earthquake was God's direct answer.
Why, then, did the jailer burst into the inner cell, “trembling for fear," and why did he ask, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:3030And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (Acts 16:30)). What did he desire to be saved from? The earthquake had cracked more than the prison walls. It had cracked the thin veneer of custom and sense, and let him see the nether fires. Paul's answer tells us what he supposed the jailer to mean by it, and the fact that his first fear had been quieted makes it certain that Paul rightly understood the question. The jailer took salvation in its deepest sense, and his question is one that every soul of man has the same need to ask.
Salvation is healing from sickness and deliverance from danger. It implies that we are diseased and in peril. And is not every one of us sick with the worst of diseases— sin? There is no need to exaggerate, and the Gospel does not charge all men with crimes, or even with vices, but it does declare that all clean living, “respectable," law- abiding people, as really as others, are sinners. And are we not all in peril? Is not all unforgiven sin dangerous here and now, and is there not a future to take into account?
The jailer's plain question was met by an unhesitating answer, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ “(Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)). Mark the full, solemn name: "Lord” implies sovereignty, and probably divinity; "Jesus" implies incarnation; "Christ" implies that He is the fulfillment of the ancient dispensation, with its priests, prophets, and kings, since He is anointed with the divine spirit. And the whole name proclaims that “Himself bare our sins “(1 Peter 2:2424Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)).
The jailer was a heathen at sunset; he was a Christian, rejoicing in God, long before the sun rose. Great resolutions, which change a life, are generally made in a flash at last, though the preparation may have been long. For many the only chance—if we may use the word—of ever becoming Christians is that they shall be swept by the energy of a sudden resolution to do what they know they should have done years ago ; that is, to cast themselves on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. DR. A. M.