The context continues For Sherlock Holmes

So as we continue in Acts 16 regarding why the Jailer asked Paul what he had to do to be saved we find ourselves now looking at the context of what happened before the statement. I said in our last post we need to go all the way back to verse 14 of chapter 16 to see the entire context of this situation. Here we find Paul arriving in Philippi after having received the Macedonian vision. He encounters a woman named Lydia who was from Thyatira and was a seller of purple fabrics. The text also says she was a worshiper of God. Side note: that is an entirely different study that could be done regarding those who worship God but are not saved, but I will leave that for another time. But the text states that God opens her heart to be able to respond to the things Paul is proclaiming. So Paul is preaching at this point and this women listens to Him. Now there is an incredible jump in chronological time here as verse 15 states that she and her household were all baptized. Here is another question one could ask, what is all implied in that statement in verse 15? I will let you determine that one. But to sum it up she was saved her and her household, which happens to be a statement that will be repeated later in this text. But Paul goes and stays at her house and continues to preach in the area. Paul and Silas encounter a girl possessed by a demon who is able to tell fortunes and has a master who uses her for profit. The interesting thing though is the demon recognizes who Paul and Silas are and begins publicly following them stating an incredible statement. The slave girl, through the demon states, "These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation." Isn't it interesting that demons can see the truth, though they refuse to submit to it, yet people are so blind to that very truth. Anyway the demon states that Paul is proclaiming "the way of salvation" We saw it implied in verses 14 and 15 but now confirmed in verse 17. The rest of the passage deals with the girl being freed from the demon and the master loosing his income. He then brings Paul before the courts accusing them of preaching a message that is against their customs and laws. Paul and Silas are thrown into jail and we know the rest of the story. But think about this now as you deduce what you just read. The jailer lived in Philippi,. Could there have been a chance that he had heard Paul preach prior to Paul arriving at the jail? Could his family have heard about Paul? The news of the miracle of the girl being freed from demon possession may have spread through the city. When Paul and Silas arrive at the jail could the magistrate have explained to the jailer who Paul and Silas were? Or maybe the jailer talked with his family about the new prisoners. These are speculative questions but what the text reveals in regards to the jailers question and they way the family responded, one could deduce that they had prior knowledge of what Paul had been preaching. Now understanding that Paul was a follower of the Way doesn't fully explain why the jailer responded the way he did.. But again if we look at what occurred prior to this incident regarding how Lydia and her family responded can help us. Remember the statement that God had opened her heart to be able to understand and respond. Could that not have happened to the jailer as well, even though, and again this is speculation, he most likely was not a worshiper of God. The same statement made about Lydia and her household being baptizes was made about the jailer and his household. They both responded to Paul's initial proclamation and then further listened to him explain the gospel. Based on these facts within the scripture we can deduce quite a bit. I hope that helps you see how searching the scriptures with a keen Sherlock Holmes type eye can help you understand scripture that much better. Now the next question to pose or one of the next questions is, regarding what Paul did and how he was able to have such an effect on two families is, how can I apply that to my life in order for scripture to have an impact in my life as well? If we simply leave off at this point all we have is a good understanding of scripture, but without it making an impact in our lives and how we live in relationship to God it is just information for information sake. All right that is enough for today. Keep on searching the scriptures my friends and always live for the Glory of God.. God bless.

His humble servant,
Mark