Barnabas File

As I work through the Book of Acts for Sunday morning Bible study, I am becoming more aware of the similarities between the pre-modern world of the first century and the post-modern world of the 21 st century.   For example, we have assumed certain things about the Philippian jailer that may not be justified.   You know the story.   Paul and Silas have been thrown into prison because of an act of generosity.   This is what happened next:    About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.   Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.  But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”  ...