Meet the jailer. A solid, middle class, working man ... a Roman citizen ... a soldier in Philippi. His responsibilities included guarding the prisoners that were placed in his prison. It's where Paul and Silas had been placed. This jailer was conscientious. He knew he was responsible for them ... so he seemed to get into the mood of the leaders ... not only placed these "hardened criminals" in an inner cell (that meant no windows ... no fresh air ... imagine it!) ... but also placed their feet in stocks, not shackles. Stocks were rigid - when their legs cramped there would be nothing to do - no ability to get up and move around. I can almost see his swagger as the doors are locked and he walks away.
But God is never stopped by locked doors or by dark places. And God moves for His servants. Just imagine the scene in that prison when the earthquake shook its foundations. I can see the prison doors being flung open ... not unusual in the wake of a violent earthquake ... but the chains all falling off? The stocks unleashing their hold? The jailer is thrown into a state of panic as his mind foresees his own fate at the hands of his bosses ... and decides it is better to just end his life himself.
How did Paul convince all the prisoners to stay in their cells? Was it the singing? Was it their amazement at the presence of God through these 2 men? They stayed and the jailer decided to hear these men out. And another remarkable conversion takes place. He believes. His household believes. The little church in Philippi grows.
Paul and Silas were released the next morning but were unwilling to slink out of the prison. Paul invokes his own Roman citizenship at this point in our story. Why now? Why not before the beatings took place? I don't know. But I do know that foremost in his mind is the protection of the fledging church that is born in Philippi. He wants no shadow of suspicion surrounding them - no rumors of the "criminals" that started it. It is similar to a public pardon - for all the city to see and know. And rather than immediately get out of town, Paul and Silas go back to Lydia's and encouraged the frightened brothers and sisters there. I suspect he introduced them all to this jailor and his household. Can you picture it? I wonder if some of the people were hesitant to welcome them into the little group? That would be a rather human response!
So now ... before we begin reading Paul's letter to this church ... observe its beginning membership.
There is a wealthy business woman, upper class, merchant to the wealthiest because of her product. A Jewess. The church is meeting in her home. Spacious ... probably beautiful. And her household.
Perhaps a little female slave. She doesn't even make the social strata ... she is below it. Has nothing of her own. We don't know her nationality.
A middle class working man. Probably a retired soldier of the empire. A citizen of Rome. And his household.
Notice the mix? Racial ... gender ... economic ... social ... cultural ...
Christ's church has a place for each of these. Each one belongs. Each one matters. Each one was taught by the apostle himself. And in spite of that insurmountable diversity - they meet together, grow together, and learn to love each other.
And that, my friends, is God's greatest miracle!
Paul loves this church. He loves these people. And they love him. However, his work requires that he move on. There are other cities - other people longing to be set free.
Acts 16:40 tells us that "they left". Perhaps Luke stayed in Philippi to help this new body of believers. Some think Timothy stayed as well for a bit of time. The next time we see Timothy is in Berea.
The church in Philippi is born ...
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