"Sirs," he said, falling in fear on the ground, "what must I do to be
saved?"
"Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ," they replied, "and you and your
household will all be saved."
The jailor's wife then brought some oil and water, and the jailor
washed the poor wounded backs of Paul and Silas and rubbed healing oil
into them.
The night was now passing and the sun began to rise. There was a tramp
of feet. The lictors who had thrashed Paul and Silas marched to
the door of the prison with an order to free them. The jailor was
delighted.
"The praetors have sent to set you free," he said. "Come out then and
go in peace."
He had the greatest surprise in his life when, instead of going, Paul
turned and said:
"No, indeed! The praetors flogged us in public in the Forum and without
a trial--flogged Roman citizens! They threw us publicly into prison,
and now they are going to get rid of us secretly. Let the praetors come
here themselves and take us out!"
Surely it was the boldest message ever sent to the powerful praetors.
But Paul knew what he was doing, and when the Roman praetors heard the
message they knew that he was right. They would be ruined if it were
reported at Rome that they had publicly flogged Roman citizens without
trial.
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