BibleProject | Upside-Down Kingdom / Part 2 - ActsSample

Luke continues to tell us about Paul’s missionary journey throughout the Roman Empire. As he travels, he boldly shares the good news about Jesus’ Kingdom, and many hear Paul’s message as a threat to their Roman way of life. But there are others who eventually recognize Paul’s message as good news that leads to a whole new way of life. For example, Luke tells us about a jailer from Philippi. We meet him as we follow the story of Paul and Silas’ wrongful imprisonment.

After being accused of causing city wide confusion, Paul and his coworker Silas are unjustly beaten and thrown in jail. Lying awake in their cell, bruised and bloody, they begin praying and singing to God. The prisoners are listening to their worship songs when a huge earthquake shakes the foundations of the prison so violently that the prisoner’s chains break off and all the prison doors fly open. The jailer sees this and knows he will be executed for letting the prisoner’s escape, so despairing of life, he draws his sword against himself. But Paul stops him just in time to save his life. At this, the hardened jailer softens and falls down before Paul and Silas. He recognizes that his life also needs to be saved eternally, and he wants to know the way. Paul and Silas are eager to share with him, and that very day the jailer and his whole family begin to follow Jesus.

Read, Reflect, and Respond:

• The prison doors were opened. Paul and Silas could have escaped and let the consequences fall on the jailer, but they didn’t. They stayed in their prison cells to save the very man who threw them in there. What does that tell you about their character and the true purpose of their mission to preach about Jesus’ Kingdom?  
• Reflect on how Paul and Silas’ gracious response to the jailer radically changed his life (see 16:28-34). Who needs your gracious response today?
• Are you despairing of life? Do not harm yourself; Jesus is here for you. He loves you. Trust him today. Tell him how you are feeling, ask him for what you need, and invite him to lead you into a whole new way of life. He hears you.