Message Notes

SSS 4 15 November 2026
Text: Acts 16

25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

26 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.

27 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.

28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”

29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.

30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.

33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.

34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

Acts 16:25-34

PAUL IN A PHILIPPIAN JAIL

1. Sentenced

2. Beaten

3. Chained

4. Jailed (Maximum security)

OUTSTANDING RESPONSE

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Acts 16:25

1. Praying

2. Singing hymns to God

3. Captive Audience
Fellow-prisoners!

DIVINE INTERVENTION

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.

Acts 16:26

1. A great earthquake occurred

2. Foundations of the prison shaken

3. All the prison doors were opened and all chains were loosed

REACTION OF THE JAILER

27 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.

28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”

29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.

Acts 16:27-29

1. The keeper of the prison was asleep

a) He saw the prison doors open

b) He concluded that the prisoners had escaped

c) He wanted to commit suicide

d) If the prisoners had escaped he would have been executed

2. Paul stopped the jailer from killing himself

3. The jailer ran into the inner quarters

4. He knelt before Paul and Silas

5. He recognised that these were not ordinary prisoners

SALVATION AND BAPTISM

30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.

33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.

34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

Acts 16:30-34

1. The jailer asked how he may be saved

2. Paul explained what it means to have faith in the Lord Jesus

3. The Jailer and his household were baptised that very night!