Spiritual Survival Guide
8: Bible Studies for Inside and Out
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foun- dations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” 29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household. 35 When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “Release those men.” 36 The jailer told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.” 37 But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.” 38 The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed. 39 They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, request-
ing them to leave the city. 40 After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the believers and encouraged them. Then they left.—Acts 16:16-40
DISCUSS
We offer suggestions for some possible answers, but don’t feel confined by them. 1. After all that they’d been through, at “about midnight” Paul and Silas are praying out loud and singing hymns to God. What does that make you think? a. I’ve known inmates like that. b. I’ve done something like that. c. Get to sleep already! d. It’s great to have a faithful cellmate so you can encourage each other. e. Preach it, brother! f. How can anyone have faith like that? g. I want faith like that! 2. The story says that the other prisoners were listening to Paul and Silas. Prisoners tend to watch each other very carefully. Do you have any personal examples of inmates who, like Paul and Silas, were posi- tive influences on those around them? Share what these people did and the impact it had on you. 3. The earthquake damage and the loss of security put the jailer in a no- win situation with his superiors. What do you think about the jailer in this story? a. Sorry, but I despise those guys. b. He’s just making a buck and feeding his family.
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