What Must I Do?

 Meditations on The Acts of the Apostles

March 19, 2021

What Must I Do?

He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”

Acts 16:30-31

Read: Acts 16:25-34       

When the jailer asked “what must I do to be saved?”, he was not speaking in theological terms. He knew he was in real danger if his prisoners escaped. He is not thinking about heaven or hell; he is concerned about the here and now. One translation renders verse 30 as “what must I do to be rescued?” Another, as what do I need to do “that I be made safe?” And another as “how can I get out of this mess?” All of those convey the sense of urgency in the jailer’s predicament. (Remember King Herod had the guards executed after the angel broke Peter out of jail. (Acts 12:19)) Paul’s answer was for the jailer to turn his life over to Jesus. The jailer is receiving far more than he had hoped was possible.

Two themes for the rest of Acts are introduced in today’s passage. First, for the rest of Paul’s ministry, he will be in conflict with the civil authorities. Second, in Acts 1-12, Jesus is hailed as the Messiah, King of the Jews. From Acts 13 forward, Jesus is hailed as another king, Lord of the world. But as we shall see, the other lord of the world, the Roman Emperor, does not take kindly to rivals.

My Takeaway: What Must I Do? The jailer put Paul and Silas in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.” Here, I must pause and reflect on all the times I have been distracted from worship and ministry, especially in the last twelve months of the pandemic. But I have never been put in an inner cell with my feet in stocks. I believe God has prepared us for just such a time as this. My I rest in the sure knowledge of Philippians 4:13, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Will you?

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.