Acts 16:27, commentary and pictures

Awakened by the earthquake to find every prison door open, the Philippian keeper assumed the prisoners had escaped and drew his sword to take his own life rather than face disgraceful execution for failing his charge under Roman law. Paul cried out that all were still there, having held the freed prisoners so completely by his presence and self-control that not one attempted to flee. They stayed because flight would have disgraced the gospel as if they were criminals, would have left the keeper to die, and repaid cruelty with the kindness of Christ instead of resentment or revenge. Convicted by the earthquake and by their conduct, the trembling keeper dropped his sword, confessed his sins, asked what he must do to be saved, washed their wounds, and was baptized with all his house rejoicing in God. What looked like failure became providence, showing that faithfulness under suffering lets light shine even in prison, wins souls to Christ, and turns persecution to the glory of God.

Midnight Earthquake at Philippi

The scene is Philippi, the chief city of that part of Macedonia and a colony, reached by a straight course from Troas by Samothracia and Neapolis to preach the gospel after the night vision of the man of Macedonia saying come over and help, carrying the work beyond Asia Minor into Europe without delay.

Before the earthquake Paul and Silas had been beaten and left with swollen and bleeding wounds, then locked with their feet in stocks, yet they were singing God's praises. Angels were beside them as they sang, and the jailer had heard their prayers and singing with amazement. He had himself fastened their feet in the instrument of torture, had expected bitter wailing and groans from them, and had fallen asleep with joyful praise in his ears.

Suddenly the foundations and walls were shaken by an earthquake that opened every prison door and loosed every band, chain and fetter. The glory of God penetrated the walls, flooding the darkest dungeon with beams of heavenly light.

Awakened out of sleep by the earthquake, the keeper saw the prison doors open and supposed the prisoners had fled. His first thought on waking to the shaking of the walls and the open doors was that the prisoners had escaped.

Jailer's Despair and Rescue

The keeper had received the prisoners under an explicit charge to keep them safely, and waking to see the doors open he supposed they had fled and felt sure that under Roman law death would be the penalty for his apparent unfaithfulness in failing to guard them. In despair and bitterness he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, crying that it was better to die by his own hand than to submit to disgraceful execution.

He was also trembling at the wrath of God manifested in the earthquake, and the fear of escape and punishment afterward seemed of little consequence beside a new strange dread about his own condition and a desire to possess the tranquillity and cheerfulness the apostles had shown under suffering and abuse, whose countenances showed the light of heaven. Paul cried out loudly that all were still there, and his words of reassurance stopped the death and prevented harm to the jailer. That warning that none were missing held him back from the sword when he was ready to take his own life.

Though the earthquake had opened every door and loosed every chain, band and fetter so that they could have escaped, Paul controlled the liberated prisoners so perfectly that not one attempted to escape and they remained in their places, restrained by his presence and self-control. Their staying spared the keeper the death penalty he would have faced if they had fled. They stayed because flight would have acknowledged they were criminals to the disgrace of the gospel, would have exposed the jailer to the penalty of death, and would have made a bad general influence.

The severity with which the jailer had treated them had not roused resentment, revenge, or malice, for otherwise they would have allowed him to kill himself, but with hearts filled with the love of Christ they repaid cruelty with kindness, held no malice against their persecutors, and showed concern for him, proving the character of Christ's religion. He knew God had miraculously interposed to save their lives, proving they were servants of the most high God showing the way of salvation.

Conversion and Witness

The earthquake together with the prisoners' conduct brought the jailer under conviction, and unlike Felix he did not stifle it. Trembling and humble he came forward, dropped his sword, sought forgiveness, confessed his sins, found pardon, and welcomed the Spirit of God into his heart and home, choosing to serve God as a child of God and heir of heaven. What had looked discouraging and like failure became success when the trembling jailer brought them out and asked what he must do to be saved. He and his house heard the word of the Lord, he was moved by the faith that had sustained Paul under suffering, he washed their stripes, he was baptized at once with all his household, and he rejoiced believing in God. His household also came to faith and joined Christ's disciples.

The imprisonment itself was direct providence to bring the light of truth inside the prison walls. Through it officers in the emperor's service were converted. There among convicted sinners in the Macedonian dungeon Paul lifted up Christ as the One who hates sin and loves the sinner. He proclaimed Him as the bearer of human sins who has authority to impart His righteousness. His faith, strengthened by effort and sacrifice, upheld him so that opposition and persecution did not turn him from serving Christ.

Angels from heaven came right into the prison house on Paul's behalf when he suffered for truth's sake, to take their prey from the enemy. This proves that God is constantly working on behalf of His people. It teaches families that angels of God go in and out of the house, guarding and watching over men. Christ's church was present in the Philippian prison, for where two or three love and obey God's commandments Jesus presides even within prison walls. The suffering of His saints there spread faith, won souls to Christ, and glorified His name, proving that all things work together for good to those who love God.

The verse means believers must bear God's message wherever they are and constantly let their light shine. They are to obey God rather than man when laws and powers oppose God, continuing to proclaim Jesus though forbidden and thrust into prison. Faithfulness to truth brings reproach, persecution and strait places, especially when the message goes with a loud cry. The bitterest opposition from those who hate God's moral standard should not shake the steadfast soul who trusts fully in God.