Acts 16:30

Brought them out. Away from that dark inner prison, and from the other prisoners. This was permissible, in spite of the charge given him (v. 23), for they had already demonstrated that they did not intend to escape.

Sirs. Gr. kurioi, a title of respect. Kurios (singular) is customarily translated “lord,” and is the same word used by Paul and Silas for Christ in v. 31 (see on ch. 9:5).

What must I do? It is unlikely that the jailer fully understood his own question, and we must be careful not to read a modern meaning into his words. But under the influence of the Holy Spirit, there came a great sense of spiritual need, and with all his other fears, he now feared to stand in the presence of a righteous God. The fear of earthly consequences had opened up the way for a fear of divine effects. When the mind is terror stricken it does not stay to separate its fears into categories. But the terror that demanded an assurance of present safety also awoke a desire for ultimate salvation. Compare his question with Saul’s query on the Damascus road (ch. 9:6). Little did the heathen jailer know how effective his own inquiry would be in leading countless others also to find eternal life.