The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family (Acts 16:34).

Everyone in this passage is in a tight space.  

Paul and Silas, in prison, of course; they’re the heroes of the story.  But also: a slave girl, economically exploited and demonically oppressed.  Some prominent Philippians who, even when the kingdom of God crashes in upon them, can’t or won’t surrender to the only King the world really ever has had or will have. The others in prison with Paul and Silas.  A jailer who, while dead in his trespasses and sins, has a more immediate problem: if he allows his prisoners to escape, his own life is forfeit, and an earthquake has just sprung all the doors and caused the shackles to drop from the walls.

If I were Paul, seeing how God had miraculously moved to deliver me from a wild miscarriage of justice, I would have cruised right out of there, likely thumbing my nose at the jailer, who was, after all, a tool of the folks who had beaten me (severely and illegally) and thrown me into an “inner” jail cell.  If local law and custom requires his life for my escape, well, that’s on him and on them.  Jesus set me free!

Thanks be to God Paul isn’t like me.  He sees his jailer as a potential brother in Christ.  “Don’t harm yourself,” he shouts, “we’re all here.”  In rushes the jailer; when he realizes he won’t have to die he asks, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

I submit to you that it wasn’t the earthquake that generated his question; it was Paul and Silas staying put, remaining in their tight space instead of seizing upon the earthquake-supplied opportunity for freedom.  Who does that?  Why would they?

And now: their jailer becomes their host.  From the tight space of a cell to the warm and nourishing shelter of the man’s home.  As he now extends hospitality to his former prisoners, he listens to them answering his question.  He washes their wounds, then is washed himself by them in the waters of baptism, along with all the members of his family.  He serves them a meal—remember, it’s now several hours past midnight (see verse 25)—and I suspect Paul might have introduced them to what we know as the Lord’s Supper.  Seems like it would have fit the moment!

God often does great things when we’re willing to stay put.  Even when it doesn’t seem to be in our best interests.

We’re all continuing to do a whole lot of staying put.  How is the Spirit at work in your staying put, developing and deepening your capacities for listening … noticing … loving … sharing good news?