Sketches from the Life of Paul (1883) — PDF Scan 85

Scan transcription helps with searching and selection. Use the printed page above for exact spelling and punctuation.

78 LIFE OF PAUL . persecutors. The jailerdroppedhissword,and calledfor a light. He hastenedintothe inner dungeon,and felldown beforePaul and Silas, begging their forgiveness. He then brought them intotheopencourt,and inquiredof them, " Sirs,what must I do to be saved ?" He had trembled because of the wrath of God expressedin theearthquake; he had been ready todieby hisown hand forfearof thepenaltyof the Roman law,when he thoughtthe prisoners had escaped; but now allthesethingswere of littleconsequencetohim comparedwiththenew and strange dread that agitatedhis mind , and hisdesiretopossessthattranquilityand cheerfulnessmanifestedby the apostlesunder their extremesufferingand abuse. He saw the light of Heaven mirrored in their countenances; he knew thatGod had interposedin a miraculous manner to save theirlives; and the words of the woman possessedby the power of divination came to his mind with peculiarforce: "These men are the servantsof the most high God, which show untous theway of salvation." He saw his own deplorableconditionin contrastwith thatof the disciples, and with deep humilityand reverenceaskedthem to show him theway of life. "And theysaid,Believeon the Lord Jesus Christ,and thou shaltbe saved,and thy house. And theyspakeunto him the word of the Lord ,and to all that were in his house ." The jailerthenwashedthewoundsof theapostles,and ministereduntothem; and was baptized by them. A sanctifyinginfluencespreadamong theinmatesof the prison,and the heartsof all were openedtoreceivethetruthsutteredby the apostles. They were convincedalsothattheliv