Alaskan Earthquakes

Alaska has the most earthquakes of any state, with a magnitude seven earthquake nearly every year. The state also experienced the United States’ most violent recorded earthquake in March of 1964. Earthquakes are a natural disaster that occurs as a result of the shifting of the earth’s places. Although we often think of California when we consider earthquakes within the United States, Alaska actually has more earthquakes than any other state. The state’s most violent earthquake occurred on Good Friday in 1964, lasting four minutes and measuring a magnitude of 9.2. Many homes and communities were devastated by the quake, and an underwater landslide caused a massive tsunami. About 131 people were killed, most as a result of the tsunami.

In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were prisoners in a Roman jail in the city of Philippi. Having been beaten and chained, they spent the night singing and praising God in the dark cell. In the middle of their singing, a massive earthquake shook the prison. Their chains were broken, and the prison gate opened. Yet rather than flee, the men took this opportunity to reach out to the keeper of the prison … and their words led him to follow Christ!

This fast-paced story moves from a beating and imprisonment to freedom, witnessing, and finally baptism. In a twist of irony, God used hard circumstances to bring about positive results. Paul’ and Silas’s mistreatment led to the baptism of several new believers. A natural disaster led to freedom. And throughout each moment, both men refused to let circumstances around them take away from their purpose. They kept their focus on one thing: following their Master.

Key Bible Texts

And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. (Acts 16:26 KJV)