The Point of Contact, Part 1 (Of 2)

 

When the Philippian jailer came trembling into Paul and Silas’s cell, he asked the most important question in this life: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Acts 16:30. Contrary to the next verse, the answer isn’t always as simple as, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household,” verse 31. It is all about the point of contact with the inquirer, and where they stand as far as understanding is concerned. Paul and Silas had already been praying and singing hymns in their cell, and we are told the inmates were listening, implying that everyone else was quiet, Acts 16:25. It could be surmised that the jailer heard earlier what the prisoners were currently listening to: namely the disciples extolling God from their cell. An earthquake roused him from sleep and panic induced him to contemplate suicide when he believed the prisoners had fled. When Paul assured the man that the prisoners were accounted for, and the jailer saw for himself, he was afraid. The earthquake rousing him from sleep coupled with his near brush with death made him receptive to the supernatural nature of what had just transpired.

Paul had just saved his physical life, and now he and Silas explained how his spiritual life might also be saved. The jailer took the men out of prison and listened to their words with all of his household, and as the men declared, all of his household believed and was saved, Acts 16:34. On a side note we can reasonably deduce that no infants or very small children were of this company, because infants cannot believe anything, and therefore cannot receive the gospel of salvation until they are old enough to comprehend what they are hearing. Being a jailer, or the keeper of the prison (Acts 16:27) it was likely that he was already at least aware of the Way and its Head, Jesus. It would not be unreasonable to assert that he had Christian prisoners in times past and heard much concerning the faith. Yet it took an earthquake and nearly killing himself to finally get through, and get through the Holy Spirit did, convicting him of his need for salvation and leading the man to Paul and Silas, who could tell him the truth.

 

Elsewhere in the book of Acts we find Philip who comes across an Ethiopian eunuch. The eunuch was a Jewish proselyte (Acts 8:27), and when Philip found him he was reading from the scroll of Isaiah. The evangelist’s first question to him was straightforward: “Do you understand what you are reading?” Acts 8:30. The eunuch responds, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” verse 31. This exchange is quite insightful. Unlike the Philippian jailer who witnessed something deeply moving and came to the evangelist, in Philip’s case the evangelist went to the proselyte when he saw his opportunity. Moreover, listen to what the proselyte said to Philip again. How can he understand what he is reading unless someone guides him? Truth isn’t intuitive. Revelation is not native to the human condition. These are externally presented by God’s condescending interposition. In layman’s terms, we need a guide to lead us into all truth. Yes, Christians have the Holy Spirit abiding in us, but do not mistake this for sudden infallibility. Were this the case, moral perfection and doctrinal inerrancy would occur upon conversion, which any saint willing to confess, does not happen to them. The Holy Spirit is constructing His church, of which we are all stones. We are meant to come together to form the temple in which Christ resides, and those in the faith longer are meant to instruct and correct the younger generation. The younger generation is meant to learn and appeal to Scripture, so the Bible is our authority and when the elders are congruent with God’s word we may have confidence in their Spirit filled leadership.

 

Philip leads the eunuch, beginning with Isaiah, through the Scriptures to preach Christ to him. Philip’s reasoning is sound, and the eunuch, convinced of Christ’s Lordship, asks to be baptized, Acts 8:36. Philip, putting water baptism in its proper place, replies to his inquiry by stating, “If you believe with all your heart, you may,” verse 37. We can infer that Philip concluded his conversation with the eunuch by preaching the great commission out of Matthew’s gospel that tells us that we are to make disciples, baptize them, and teach them all that we have been commanded. The eunuch, hearing this, asks to be baptized and Philip consents. Whereas the jailer was brought to Christ through emotional trauma (at least being a portion of the stimulus) the eunuch was convinced through sound Biblical exposition. This is not to be said that Paul and Silas did not teach the man, which of course they did after he brought them home, Acts 16:32. Even those who have knowledge of God can benefit from added clarity, which draws us nearer to our Lord.