Acts 16:25-30 – “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, ‘Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.’ Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved’?”
Paul and Silas were beaten, unjustly imprisoned, and locked in the inner chamber of the prison. What was their response? At midnight they were praying and singing hymns to God. They were not murmuring and complaining but giving praise to God. I Thessalonians 5:18 says, “…in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
What was the result of their prayers? God sent an earthquake, and the prison doors were opened, and the chains were broken. This was more than just a natural earthquake. It was supernatural. It was a Spirit quake. A Spirit quake is a Holy Spirit inspired earthquake. It is a spiritual shaking that will open prison doors and break the chains that bind us. God will use a Spirit quake to wake us from our spiritual slumber. The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 13:11, “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.”
This powerful earthquake brought revival into the prison. Acts 16:27-30 says, “And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
The world is asking the same question today, “What must I do to be saved?” Paul answers him in Acts 16:31, “So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” What does it mean to be saved? The Bible reveals that God saves believers from their sin, the power of Satan, death, and the judgment to come.[1]
Jesus Christ went to the cross, took our sins, and provided our salvation. Ephesians 1:7 says, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Salvation is deliverance from the power of sin, including forgiveness as well as wholeness for the whole personality.
In Luke 19:10 Jesus gave us a glimpse of His mission, “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” He is still seeking those who are lost, without hope, and estranged from the Father.
[1] What Does Salvation Mean, retrieved from the internet 11/6/24, https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/what-does-salvation-mean
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