Albert Barnes Commentary Acts 16:30

"and brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" — Acts 16:30 (ASV)

And brought them out. From the prison.

Sirs. Greek, kurioi, lords—an address of respect; a title usually given to masters, or owners of slaves.

What must I do to be saved? Never was a more important question asked than this. It is evident that by this question he did not refer to any danger to which he might be exposed from what had happened. For,

1. The apostles evidently understood him as referring to his eternal salvation, as is manifest from their answer, since to believe on the Lord Jesus would have no effect in saving him from any danger of punishment to which he might be exposed from what had occurred.

2. He could scarcely consider himself as exposed to punishment by the Romans. The prisoners were all safe; none had escaped, or showed any disposition to escape; and besides, for the earthquake and its effects he could not be held responsible.

It is not improbable that there was much confusion in his mind. There would be a rush of many thoughts, a state of agitation, alarm, and fear. In view of all this, he would naturally ask those whom he now saw to be men sent by God and under His protection what he should do to obtain the favour of that great Being under whose protection he saw that they manifestly were. Perhaps the following thoughts contributed to this state of agitation and alarm:

1. They had been designated by the Pythoness (Acts 16:17) as religious teachers sent from God and appointed to "show the way of salvation"; and in her testimony he might have been disposed to put confidence, or it might now be brought fresh to his recollection.

2. He manifestly saw that they were under the protection of God. A remarkable interposition—an earthquake, an event which all the heathen regarded as ominous of the presence of the Divinity—had shown this.

3. The guilt of their imprisonment might rush upon his mind, and he might suppose that he, as the agent of the imprisonment of God's servants, would be exposed to His displeasure.

4. His own guilt in attempting his own life might overwhelm him with alarm.

5. The whole scene was fitted to show him his need for the protection and friendship of the God who had thus interposed.

In this state of agitation and alarm, the apostles directed him to the only source of peace and safety—the blood of the atonement.

The feelings of an awakened sinner are often strikingly similar to those of this jailer. He is agitated, alarmed, and fearful; he sees that he is a sinner and trembles. The sins of his life rush over his memory, filling him with deep anxiety, and he inquires, What must I do to be saved?

Often too, as here, the Providence of God is the means of awakening the sinner and of leading to this inquiry. Some alarming dispensation convinces him that God is near and that his soul is in danger.

The loss of health, property, or a friend may thus alarm the soul; or the presence of pestilence, or any fearful judgment, may arrest the attention and lead to the inquiry, What must I do to be saved?

Reader, have you ever made this inquiry? Have you ever, like the heathen jailer at Philippi, seen yourself as a lost sinner and been willing to ask the way to life?

In this narrative, we see the contrast that exists in periods of distress and alarm between Christians and sinners. The guilty jailer was all agitation, fear, distress, and terror; the apostles, all peace, calmness, and joy. The one was filled with thoughts of self-murder; the others were intent on saving life and doing good.

This difference is to be traced to religion. It was confidence in God that gave peace to them; it was the lack of that confidence which led to agitation and alarm in him. It is so still.

In the trying scenes of this life, the same difference is still seen. In bereavements, in sickness, in times of pestilence, in death, it is still so.

The Christian is calm; the sinner is agitated and alarmed. The Christian can pass through such scenes with peace and joy; to the sinner, they are scenes of terror and of dread.

And thus it will be beyond the grave. In the morning of the resurrection, the Christian will rise with joy and triumph; the sinner, with fear and horror.

And thus at the judgment seat. Calm and serene, the saint shall witness the solemnities of that day and triumphantly hail the Judge as his friend. Fearful and trembling, the sinner shall regard these solemnities and, with a soul filled with horror, shall listen to the sentence that consigns him to eternal woe!

With what solicitude, then, should we seek, without delay, an interest in that religion which alone can give peace to the soul!