Believe in Jesus Christ for Life

​In Acts 16 we have Luke’s account of how Paul and Silas evangelized and planted a church in the Roman Colony of Philippi.  What may very well be the most well-known event of their time in Philippi is what happened after they were arrested and thrown in Prison.  They were charged with sedition for teaching things contrary to Roman law.  That was a serious charge which required the Jailer to place them in the high security section of his prison.  According to Luke, they had spent their evening in prayer and singing hymns.  He also says the other prisoners were listening to them.  Luke doesn’t give any other detail, but I don’t think it a stretch to assume Paul made sure the prisoners heard a clear presentation of the Gospel. 
 
Then at midnight there was an earthquake that shook the foundations of that prison.  The doors had been sprung open and the chains that restrained the prisoners had been loosened.  Assuming the worse, the Jailer prepared to kill himself only to be stopped by Paul who shouted out that no one had escaped.  And then Luke wrote the following: 
 
And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”  So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.  Acts 16:30-32
 
While it can be argued that we don’t know what the Jailer meant by saved; we do know Paul’s meaning.  And as Luke points out Paul and Silas went on to explain the Word of the Lord to him and everyone in his household.  As Jesus Christ explained it to Nicodemus in John 3, whoever believes in Jesus Christ for everlasting life will receive everlasting life.