All his house

'All his house'

— Acts 16:34

In Acts 16 the Holy Spirit directs our attention to the Philippian jailor and ‘all his house’. He gives us seven instructive pictures of that family.

l. The jailor and all his house were lost and perishing. This man and his family lived in the prison compound at Philippi, in darkness and ignorance as children of wrath (Eph. 2:11-12). But they were elect, chosen of God and precious. And the time of mercy had come.

2. God saw to it that the jailor and all his house heard the gospel. The Lord arranged an earthquake to open the door for the gospel to be preached to this jailor at midnight. Having heard the gospel himself, the jailor called his family together so that they might hear and be saved.

3. The jailor and all his house believed on Christ. Each one heard the gospel of redeeming love and saving grace. Each one believed. And each one was saved.

4. The jailor and all his house confessed Christ in baptism. All who were baptized were believers, and all who believed were baptized. Immediately upon their profession of faith, they confessed Christ, being buried with him in the watery grave.

5. The jailor and all his house served Christ. Believing and being baptized, each one seems to have said, ‘What can I do for Christ?’ And they did what was at hand: they served the needs of God’s messengers. They washed their wounds, fed them and entertained them willingly at a most unaccommodating time.

6. The jailor and all his house rejoiced in the Lord. Faith in Christ caused them to rejoice. They were forgiven, justified, accepted in Christ and heirs of eternal life. Why should they not rejoice?

7. Though it is not written in the text, it is clearly revealed that the jailor and all his house are now in glory. There, seated before the throne of the Lamb are the jailor, his wife, all his children and all his servants. What a delightful picture! I cannot help asking myself this question: ‘Will all my house be there with me?’ Will yours? May God be so gracious to you and to me.