16
The War Cry | AUGUST 2014
by
COMMISSIONER ROBERT E. THOMSON
What
Must I
Do To Be
he Apostle Paul and his companion
Silas
were in jail.
They had been accused of "throwing
our city [Philippi] into an uproar," and conse-
quently were placed in stocks in the innermost
cell to prevent any possibility of escape.
At midnight, while Paul and Silas were singing songs of praise
to God, a severe earthquake struck the vicinity. "The founda-
tions of the prison were shaken... all the prison doors flew
open, and everybody's chains came loose" (Acts 16:26 NIV).
The jailer, fearing the worst, was about to kill himself when Paul
shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"
As a result of the actions of the apostles, the jailer realized
his sinful condition and asked, "What must I do to be saved?"
Here was a man involved in the criminal justice system of
his day. He knew a good deal about crime and punishment.
Now he was aware of his unregenerate spiritual condition
and begged for help in finding a right relationship with God,
so that he might escape eternal doom.