A Christian friend once gave me this wise counsel: "Witness always, and when necessary use words." In the book of Acts, Paul and Silas unwittingly use this strategy to save a Philippian jailer during an outreach in Macedonia.
The drama unfolds as the men deliver a girl from a spirit of divination in Acts 16:18. This causes a near riot as angry merchants – seeing their fortune-telling business vanish – drag Paul and Silas to the authorities. Here they are accused of troubling the city, beaten with rods and cast into prison. But this does not discourage the apostles, who, with their feet fastened to stocks, begin praying and singing unto the Lord at midnight. This is not an expression of public evangelism; they are simply ministering unto the heart of God. In other words, minding their own business. But look what happens in verse 25 – the prisoners are listening to them.
God responds next by shaking the prison with an earthquake. The doors swing open and everyone's chains are loosed. Fearing that the prisoners have escaped, the panicked jailer takes a sword and prepares to kill himself. But Paul calls to him in a loud voice, "Do yourself no harm, for we are all here." The jailer grabs a light, runs to the cell and falls down trembling before Paul and Silas. "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" he asks in verse 30. The apostles share the gospel and the man and his household receive Yeshua as Lord and Savior. What causes the jailer to have such a sudden change of heart? Could it be that he, too, was moved by the praying and singing of Paul and Silas in the darkness of the prison compound? Where did these strangers find such joy and peace in their hour of suffering? The passage is silent about the fate of the other prisoners, but the fact they didn't flee after the earthquake suggests they also were impacted by Paul and Silas. Their mission produced fruit even with an unseen audience. Christians today would do well if they approached evangelism as these two did in Macedonia – witness always, and when necessary use words. You never know who might be watching or listening.
Posted by Jeff King at June 26, 2004 10:57 AMGreat entry, very encouraging. It's our responsibility to be obedient and to share the Word of God; it is the Holy Spirit's responsibility to open people's hearts and bring faith in response to the Word. So often I get our roles reversed...
Posted by: Charles Sebold at June 27, 2004 03:31 AMJeff [and Charlie], as a comforting reminder. some "plant," some "water," but it is God who gives the increase. Yup! Personally, I don't think that this side of Glory, any of us will truly know the effect we've had on other people's lives. We are the epistle that is known and read by all people (2 Cor 3:2), and be sure there is always "someone" reading us. May God continue to use all of us, and may we be a vessel unto His Glory and Honor. Great article, Jeff!
Posted by: A.Robinson at June 27, 2004 06:18 PM