"And he called for the lights and rushed in and, trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas and after he brought them out, he said, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?'  And they said, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household.'  And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house.  And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household.  And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household."

The healing power of a simple message.

The Philippian jailer was ready to die.  He had the sword at his heart.  But was rescued by the knowledge that he was still doing his job.

Then he heard the message he needed to hear all of his life.  Salvation.  Jesus.  Life.

It is an obvious change.  The symbolism is great:  Life lived because of chains turns to life without chains.  One effects the jailer, the other effects the jailer and his entire house.  One leaves a man wanting, the other leaves him rejoicing.

And that is what the gospel message means to us today as well.  Life.  Without chains.  With joy.

Do you want this life?  Do you know someone who does?

Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved.  You and your whole household.