What Must I Do to Be Saved?

“What must I do to be saved?” This was a question asked long ago by a man simply identified as “the keeper of the prison” (Acts 16:27). And people are still asking the same question today.

God directed the apostle Paul to some new places after his first missionary journey, including the Roman colony of Philippi. The Jewish population in Philippi must have been small, because there wasn’t a synagogue. There was only a place of prayer at the riverside. Paul and Silas went there and shared the gospel with a woman named Lydia, who put her faith in Christ.

Afterward, the devil went on the attack. Paul and Silas were arrested, whipped, and thrown into prison. Yet they didn’t become angry with God. In fact, the Bible says that “at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God” (Acts 16:25).

Suddenly an earthquake shook the place, and the prison doors flew open. The jailer knew he was in trouble, because if any of his prisoners escaped, he not only would be executed, but he would be tortured.

He was ready to kill himself when Paul called out from the darkness, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here” (Acts 16:28).

The jailer said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

Paul’s response was significant: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).

The same Jesus who changed that hardened Roman jailer can forgive you and change your life as well. Then you can look forward to the future, knowing that God will be in control of your life and that He has a plan for you. You will also have the wonderful knowledge that when you die, you will go to Heaven.