These words are spoken by the apostle Paul and Silas, who went to Philippi in Macedonia to preach the Gospel. The people in Philippi didn’t appreciate the message. They handed them over to the Roman authorities, charging them with disturbance of peace. Both Paul and Silas were jailed. The jailor – or, warden – treated them very badly, shackled them in chains, and threw them into a deep part of the prison with many criminals. God intervened. An earthquake opened the gates of the prison. The jailor woke up, and when he saw the open gates, he was sure that all the prisoners had fled. He wanted to kill himself rather than face his superiors. Paul stopped him from stabbing himself. Paul cried with a loud voice, telling the jailor that all prisoners are still in the building. The jailor was in shock. Why didn’t the prisoners flee? Why should Paul care for him even after he treated them so brutally? The jailor rushed inside with one desire. He knew that Paul and Silas had or knew something that he did not have. He asked them: What should I do to be saved? Our verse is the answer Paul and Silas gave to the jailor.
To believe in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only way to be saved. Later on, they will explain to him more about the Lord Jesus. But what did Paul and Silas mean by “believe in the Lord Jesus Christ”? This means to believe everything the Bible tells us about the Lord Jesus. He is the Son of God who came to earth in a body of humanity. He did great miracles, but He came to die for sinners. He was holy, but crucified willingly to pay for our sins. He was buried and rose on the third day. After His resurrection, He showed Himself to many of those who believed in Him. He ascended to Heaven after He promised that He will come again to take those who believed in Him to be with Him forever. That is salvation. Both the jailor and his household were saved, not just because he believed, but because they all believed the same truth.