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I. THE INITIATIVE STAGES TO CONVERSION.

1. A terrible sense of danger. The earthquake, and the strange, sublime conduct of the prisoners, roused his guilty conscience.

2. An earnest spirit of inquiry. "What must I do," etc.

3. A readiness to do whatever is required.

II. THE EXCLUSIVE MEANS OF CONVERSION. Faith in Christ is indispensable to produce this moral change.

1. A change of character requires a change in beliefs. We are controlled and moulded by motives: motives are beliefs.

2. The new beliefs necessary to produce this change must be directed to Christ. Christ alone gives us —

(1)  The true ideal of character.

(2)  The true way of reaching it.

(3)  The true aids to enable us to do so.

III. THE GLORIOUS ISSUE OF CONVERSION. "Thou shalt be saved." What is salvation? It is not in any sense a physical change, nor merely an intellectual change, nor necessarily a local change. It is a moral revolution. It is the soul rising from sensualism to spirituality, from selfishness to benevolence, from the world to God. This conversion —

1. Will ensure the salvation of our own souls. "Thou shalt," etc.

2. Will lead to the salvation of others. "And thy house" — not, of course, that his belief would save his family independently of theirs; but that it would prompt him to use such efforts as would, under God, lead his family to a saving faith.

(D. Thomas, 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,