“supposing that the prisoners had escaped” [Acts 16:27(RSV)]
October 8
“supposing that the prisoners had escaped”. The Philippian jailer all but took his life as a result of this mistaken supposition. It was only the reassuring cry from one of two recently admitted prisoners that they were all there that prevented him from doing so.
But God used this near suicide situation to give the jailer the greatest invitation he ever had – that of becoming saved by believing in the Lord Jesus. It happened because the Apostle Paul did not hesitate to grasp the opportunity to tell him in one short sentence all that was necessary.
Apparent catastrophe can be the nearest some get to recognising their need in Christ. Are we clearly grasping the opportunity present by such circumstances and pointing those in need to the Saviour?