Study and Pulpit Acts 16:30-31 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?… I. THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH THE QUESTION WAS ASKED. 1. Not in response to any direct teaching. Paul and Silas had not been preaching to him, so far as we know. The pulpit is a great but not the only instrument for good. Where the prophet has preached in vain, God may reserve many to Himself. There is a still small voice that does a work which the pulpit may fail to do. 2. But after a time of trouble. It is quite common to see religious interest awakened in a time of trouble. But it is not, alas! so common, that the interest continues after the trouble is past. The jailer had been assured of the safety of his prisoners before he asked this question. 3. After observation of the power of Christianity on others' lives. He had seen Paul and Silas scourged, and had, notwithstanding, heard them singing praises. He had seen that, when they had opportunity, they made no attempt to escape. Their preaching he might have scoffed at, but their lives carried with them a power beyond that of words. II. THE QUESTION ITSELF. What is it to be saved? 1. To be delivered from sin's punishment. 2. To be delivered from sin's power. It was "from their sins" that Christ came to save His people. III. THE ANSWER. The question is: "What shall I do?" as though anticipating some great requirement. The answer, perplexing many by its simplicity, is, "Believe." And what is it to believe? Well, that depends on what is to be believed. "Jesus Christ died to save you." Do I believe that? Then emotion and action are both called forth, I sorrow for sin, and flee from sin; His love calls forth my love, and my faith works by love. Let the object of faith be a person, and trust is its essential element. To the banker whom I trust I give up my gold. To the physician whom I trust I commit the care of my diseased body, and I take his medicines, though they be poisonous. To the Saviour whom I trust I commit my all. I lay my sins upon Him, and He bears them; I forsake sin, for He commands it; I lay cheerfully hold on His promises and He fulfils them. 1. Gospel faith is trustful, because its object is a Person. 2. It is fruitful in good works, because that Person calls to action. (Study and Pulpit.) Parallel Verses KJV: And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?WEB: and brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" |
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