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I. THE STATE OF HIS MIND BEFORE CONVERSION.

1. He was a careless sinner. This appears not so much from his official acts; for the guilt of persecution rested on the people and magistrates: but from his conduct as depicted in ver. 26, in which we have the picture of a worldly, careless, godless man, driven to desperation by an unexpected temporal calamity. He had no fear of God, since he was more afraid of "them that could kill the body," etc.; he had no care for his soul, since he was ready to peril its salvation; he was utterly reckless about eternity, since to escape present misery he was about to rush unsummoned into the presence of his Judge. The idea of suicide could not have occurred to any man unless he were utterly careless alike to God and His everlasting prospects.

2. But a change was wrought before conversion; from being a careless he becomes a convinced sinner. This preliminary change consisted in strong convictions of conscience and lively apprehensions of danger; and these, although suddenly produced, were profound and sincere (ver. 29). Here is a great change from apathy to concern, from recklessness to anxious inquiry. This conviction may be accounted for by what he had seen and heard; the confession of the slave girl; the conduct of the apostles; the earthquake; Paul's exhortation.

3. But while a marked change had been wrought, it was not conversion. Conviction, while it precedes conversion, is not always followed by it. He had remorse, but remorse is not repentance; he had fear; but fear is not faith; he had an apprehension of danger, but danger may be apprehended while the method of deliverance is unknown. These convictions were useful as preparatory means; they were hopeful symptoms; but they may be, and often are, stifled, resisted, and overcome. That he was not converted is evident from his question, which implies that as yet he was ignorant of the ground of a sinner's hope, and that he was disposed to look to something that he might himself do, rather than what might be Divinely done for him.

II. THE MEANS BY WHICH HIS CONVERSION WAS EFFECTED. It matters little by what circumstances a sinner is first awakened to inquire; whether by the earthquake, or the still small voice. But while the circumstances are various the means are the same in all — the truth as it is in Jesus, the full and free gospel of the grace of God. The jailer was not converted by the earthquake, on the contrary, the effect of that was suicidal terror; but what the miraculous event could not do was done by the gospel. He was directed to look out of himself to Christ, to relinquish all hope of salvation by works, and to work it by faith. The exhortation implies —

1. That he should believe the truth concerning Christ — which is involved in the names given him.

(1)  Jesus — i.e., Saviour.

(2)  Christ, the Lord's anointed.

(3)  Lord.

2. That believing the truth concerning Christ, he should place his own personal trust and reliance in Christ alone as One able to save to the uttermost. The gospel thus proposed was —

(1) A suitable means, as prescribing a remedy in all respects adapted to the evils he felt or feared.

(2) Sufficient, as containing everything to instruct, encourage, or persuade.

III. THE NATURE OF THE CHANGE. His conversion properly consisted in believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. Until he believed he was unconverted; but as soon as he believed he became a converted man. The production of pure faith is not a mere change of opinion, but a radical and thorough renovation attested by certain fruits.

1. He thirsted for more instruction (ver. 32).

2. He was concerned for the souls of his family.

3. His faith wrought by love.

4. He had peace and joy in believing.

5. He made an open profession of his faith.Conclusion: Learn —

1. That men in their unconverted state are often careless, and destitute of all fear of God and concern for their souls.

2. While they are thus careless God is often pleased to make use of some solemn and awakening dispensation to arouse and alarm them.

3. Sometimes the trials and disappointments of sinners only serve to exasperate their natural enmity, as was the case with the jailer, or attempted suicide.

4. Convictions are only useful when they produce an earnest spirit of thoughtfulness and inquiry.

5. Conviction only ends in conversion when a true sense of sin is combined with an apprehension of God's mercy in Christ.

(J. Buchanan, D. D.)

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KJV: Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

WEB: He called for lights and sprang in, and, fell down trembling before Paul and Silas,