02.28. Conversion of the Jailer
LESSON XXVIII--Conversion of the Jailer.
State the circumstances which brought Paul and Silas into the company of the jailer at Philippi. Acts 16:16-23. As the girl was telling the truth, and speaking in favor of the apostles, why did they not let her alone? Acts 16:17-18.
If Paul would not receive the testimony of evil spirits, ought we? If Paul had been pleased with the testimony of the evil spirit, what would have been thought of the relation between him and it?
Why did not Paul cast out the demon at first, instead of bearing the evil "many days?" Acts 16:18. Comp. Acts 16:19. Did the owners of the girl tell their real complaint against Paul and Silas? Acts 16:20-21. Why not? Ans.--It would have been showed that they could cast out demons, and this would have given them credit in the city.
Why did the magistrates command that they should be beaten? Acts 16:22. Why was the jailer called for? Acts 16:23. How did he dispose of them for the night? Acts 16:24. What were the stocks, and why put their feet in them? Ans.--They were pieces of timber with grooves in them in which the legs of men were fastened so that they could not be moved. The object was to torture them as well as to keep them more securely.
What occurred in the prison at midnight? Acts 16:25-26.
Why did the apostles not pray sooner? Would you have been in a good enough humor to pray, if you had been treated as they were? Why did their singing occur after their praying? Ans.--Prayer, when we are in distress, makes us more cheerful, so that we can sing. Why mention that "the prisoners heard them?" What was the cause of the earthquake. etc.? Acts 16:26. When the jailer awoke, what did he do? Acts 16:27. Why was he going to kill himself? Ans.--He expected to be disgraced, and probably put to death for allowing his prisoners to escape, and it was considered more honorable among the Romans to commit suicide than to die by the hands of an executioner.
What saved him from suicide? Acts 16:28. How could Paul see what he was about to do?
What did the jailer then do and say? Acts 16:20-30. Into what place did he spring, and out of what did he bring Paul and Silas? How did he know anything about salvation? See Acts 16:17-18. What had caused his sudden interest in the subject?
What was the answer of Paul and Silas, and what next was done? Acts 16:31-32. Why did they speak to him the word of the Lord?
What next occurred? Acts 16:33-34. To what place did he take them? 33. Was it outside or inside the house? Acts 16:34. Did Paul, then, require the jailer anything more than to believe? Why did the jailer set food before them? Why did he rejoice? Was his rejoicing before or after his baptism? When, then, did he consider himself forgiven? If the jailer had undertaken to tell his experience, what would it have been according to this account?
It is sometimes said that the jailer was baptized in the jail; what does the text prove about this? Acts 16:30-34. Even if he had been baptized in the house would this prove that he was not immersed? As "he and his all" were baptized, does not this prove that there were infants baptized? Acts 16:34.