The Greatest Question

August 12

(Acts 16:23-34 NIV) “After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. {24} Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. {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 foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody'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 family 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 family.”

(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV) “Be joyful always; {17} pray continually; {18} give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”

After Paul and Silas freed the slave girl from an evil spirit, they were arrested, beaten, and thrown into jail. Later, they were heard singing praises to God. Light can shine, even from dark prison cells. One of those listening was the Roman jailer. Rome had strict rules for jailers. If anyone escaped during your watch, you were executed. So when an earthquake came, and the cell doors sprang open, the jailer assumed everyone had escaped. He was about to kill himself when Paul assured him that no one was missing. Realizing it was a miracle, the jailer fell on his knees and asked the greatest question one can ever ask: “What must I do to be saved?” Paul and Silas shared the gospel with him, and he and his household became believers. We can learn from this. When we praise God in difficult times, He can make great things happen. And if you haven’t asked the greatest question… ask it! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day