26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.
Here is God in action. I could understand an earthquake opening the doors of a prison of that day. They did not have the sophisticated locking systems of today’s modern prisons. But I can’t attribute the loosening of everyone’s chains to an earthquake. These individual wrist and ankle bands were not attached to anything shakable by an earthquake. If earthquakes could do this, everyone’s jewelry would fall off in every large earthquake! And yet, during this Godquake, not only are the doors opened, but each prisoner is released from their individual bonds. This sounds like what Jesus did. He not only opened the door so that everyone could be free from the burden of sin, but He also freed each of us individually from our own chains. But that is a bit afield of the text, but it might preach! Paul and Silas have been arrested and are having church in the prison. They have been praying and singing as the other prisoners have listened in on their worship. Then God shows up and opens the doors. Even though they were in prison, their hearts were tuned in to eternal events. They were joining in with heaven’s choir. They were acknowledging the Sovereignty of God, even while they were in prison under false charges. And the grace of God is evident in the release of everyone in the prison. They all had the opportunity to escape, but none did. The Jailor’s life is spared as a result of them not escaping. They were there, presumably, for committing crimes. And yet for a few moments, they were free.
The Arnold Journey 