The jailer joyfully accepted the proffered Deliverer; and felt that, resting on this Rock of Salvation, he was at peace.  Though well aware that, by openly embracing the gospel, he exposed himself to considerable danger, he did not shrink from the position of a confessor.  The love of Christ had obtained full possession of his soul, and he was quite prepared to suffer in the service of his Divine Master.  He took Paul and Silas “the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes, and was baptized, he and all his, straightway; and when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.” [98:1]

It is highly probable that the shock of the earthquake was felt beyond the precincts of the jail, and that the events which had occurred there had soon been communicated to the city authorities.  We can thus best account for the fact that “when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants saying, Let those men go.” [98:2] As it is not stated that the apostles had previously entered into any vindication of their conduct, it has been thought singular that they now declined to leave the prison without receiving an apology for the violation of their privileges as Roman citizens.  But this matter presents no real difficulty.  The magistrates had yielded to the clamour of an infuriated mob; and, instead of giving Paul and Silas a fair opportunity of defence or explanation, had summarily consigned them to the custody of the jailer.  These functionaries now seemed prepared to listen to remonstrance; and Paid deemed it due to himself, and to the interests of the Christian Church, to complain of the illegal character of the proceedings from which he had suffered.  He had been punished, without a trial, and scourged, though a Roman citizen. [98:3] Hence, when informed that the duumviri had given orders for the liberation of himself and his companion, the apostle exclaimed—­“They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison, and now do they thrust us out privily?  Nay, verily, but let them come themselves, and fetch us out.” [98:4] These words, which were immediately reported by the serjeants, or lictors, inspired the magistrates with apprehension, and suggested to them the expediency of conciliation.  “And they came” to the prison to the apostles, “and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.” [99:1] The missionaries did not, however, leave Philippi until they had another opportunity of meeting with their converts.  “They went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia, and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them and departed.” [99:2]