Only Believe

Two unusual and simultaneous occurrences come together to confirm to a jailer that the message of his captives is true. It isn't that earthquakes are unheard of, but coming at the exact time that all the prisoners' chains fall off and cell doors open confirms for him that this event is miraculous. The jailer receives mercy in that all the prisoners stayed put, and he informs the jailer of this in time to stop the man committing suicide! Overcome, he asks the apostles what he had to do to be saved. Their answer could not have been better. There were no calls for a period of outward contrition or other works. The instruction was to merely believe. To trust in the one they had been preaching about: Jesus of Nazareth. He is Lord, and this term was understood as a lot more than "master"; this title implied divinity. Here was another fairly classic conversion like Lydia's. The word was heard. The Holy Spirit used the message to change the jailer, granting him repentance and faith. He submits to baptism, together with other converts in his house, and fruit immediately follows with hospitality shown to the apostles and praise rising up to God.