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"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 household."
(Acts 16:34)
Yesterday we read of the salvation of the jailer in Acts 16. His response to such a great salvation is encouraging:
"Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 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 household."
So what did the jailer do in response? He brought his family to Jesus (v.32). He helped heal the hurting... where he likely played a role in their injury in the first place (v.33). This is a great example of repentance—not just stopping one's actions but going in the other direction. Then he got baptized (v.33)! He welcomed in other believers and had fellowship with them (v.34). He was filled with joy (v.34)!
Salvation changes you. It changes your eternity, and as the Holy Spirit enters your life and takes up residence within you, the fruit of the Spirit begins to bloom. One part of the fruit of the Spirit is joy. Verse 34 tells us that the jailer was filled with joy on account of his salvation and the salvation of his family! This is a fitting response to what has happened to him and his household, but what a stark contrast it is to how we saw him just a few verses prior. Remember, he was suicidal, about to kill himself out of fear because he thought the prisoners had escaped under his watch. But the Lord had another plan and used Paul and Silas to bring this man from a place of hopeless desperation to joy-filled salvation. Not only do we see him filled with joy, we see him being immediately obedient to what God has called him to do in bringing others to Jesus, following through in baptism and serving other believers.
Joy and obedience go hand in hand. Are you feeling a lack of joy in your life in your relationship with the Lord? Perhaps you are not being obedient to the things Christ has called you to.
Psalm 51:12 is a famous verse where David asked the Lord to "restore to [him] the joy of [his] salvation." David knew that fellowship with the Lord brings joy, and his sin had kept him from enjoying that relationship.
If you get to be around new believers, that joy is almost always so bright and evident. Sadly, I often see that joy fade. My dear brothers and sisters, it shouldn't be like this! Have you forgotten the amazing things that Jesus has done for you? Or just been too distracted to enjoy it? Take a moment to pause today and ask the Lord to restore to you the joy of your salvation if it has been lost or faded. Take a step of obedience in the Lord's work and see how it increases the joy in your soul.
This passage is full of freedom: spiritual freedom for the girl afflicted by an evil spirit and freedom from her exploitation, freedom for Paul and Silas from prison after being falsely accused, and freedom for the jailer who found salvation in Christ and helped share it to his family as well. 2 Corinthians 3:17 says, "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." After studying this passage this week, I think we can all say, "Amen to that!"
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