he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
The angel's original message to Cornelius was about Peter telling him "what you must do" (Acts 10:6), but Peter recounts it as words "whereby you will be saved." This shift highlights that salvation isn't merely about following instructions, but about receiving and believing the transformative message of the Gospel itself.
he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse comes from Peter's account to the Jewish believers in Jerusalem about his encounter with Cornelius. They were questioning why he had associated with and entered the home of uncircumcised Gentiles. Peter is recounting the angel's message to Cornelius, which promised that Peter would deliver words leading to the salvation of Cornelius and his entire household.
Salvation hinges on 'words.' What kind of words could hold such immense power, and how do they connect us to God's plan?
In Acts 11:14, Peter recounts that an angel told Cornelius, 'he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.' Notice how salvation is directly linked to 'words.' This isn't just any communication; these are the Gospel words, the message of Jesus Christ.
The Gospel Message
The 'words' here refer to the proclamation of the good news – who Jesus is, what He did on the cross, and His resurrection. This message is the vehicle God uses to bring about salvation. It's not the eloquence of the speaker or the understanding of the listener alone, but the divine power inherent in the message itself, empowered by the Holy Spirit, that brings about salvation.
A Means, Not Magic
These words are the means by which salvation comes, not a magical incantation. As commentaries note, the Gospel 'only points out the way of salvation, and is only effectual to it, when it is accompanied with the power of God.' True salvation comes through faith in the message and the Savior it reveals.
Cornelius's entire household is mentioned in the promise of salvation. What does this reveal about God's expansive grace?
The promise to Cornelius wasn't just for him; it extended to 'you and all your household.' This is a beautiful picture of God's inclusive plan for salvation.
Beyond the Individual
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While salvation is a personal decision, God's heart is for families and communities. The inclusion of 'all your household' shows that when one person embraces God's message, the ripple effect can bring salvation to those closest to them. This wasn't automatic salvation by association, but an open door for the entire household to hear and respond to the Gospel.
A Precedent for Gentiles
This event was groundbreaking because Cornelius was a Gentile. The inclusion of his whole household shattered existing barriers. It set a powerful precedent that God's offer of salvation, through Christ and His 'words,' was not limited by ethnicity or social standing but was for all who would believe, regardless of their background.
Understand the original words
sōzō · Greek Verb
The fundamental act of divine deliverance from sin, judgment, and eternal separation from God. It is achieved through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and is received as a gift of grace, not earned by human merit.
This verse captures a pivotal moment where the message of salvation is explicitly extended to Gentiles, a radical concept for the early Jewish believers and a key turning point in the expansion of Christianity.
c. AD 30s
Pentecost and the Early Church
The Holy Spirit empowers the apostles, leading to the rapid growth of the early church in Jerusalem, primarily among Jewish believers.
c. AD 35
Saul's Conversion and Persecution
Saul of Tarsus, a fierce persecutor of the church, is dramatically converted. This event, along with ongoing persecution, disperses believers beyond Jerusalem.
c. AD 36— this verse
Peter's Vision and Cornelius's Call
Peter has a vision of a sheet filled with animals, teaching him that God considers no one unclean. Simultaneously, the Roman centurion Cornelius is prompted to send for Peter.
c. AD 36
Peter Preaches to Cornelius and His Household
Peter arrives in Caesarea and preaches the gospel to Cornelius and his entire household, a group of Gentiles. The Holy Spirit falls upon them, demonstrating God's acceptance of Gentiles.
c. AD 36-37
Peter Reports to Jerusalem
Upon returning to Jerusalem, Peter faces questioning from Jewish believers about his association with Gentiles. He recounts the events, including the Holy Spirit's outpouring on the Gentiles, leading to their acceptance.
c. AD 40s-50s
Missionary Journeys and Gentile Inclusion
Apostles like Paul undertake extensive missionary journeys, establishing churches among Gentiles and grappling with the implications of including them in the body of Christ without requiring adherence to Jewish law.
This passage describes the angel telling Cornelius to send for Peter, who would tell him what he needed to do, directly setting up the 'words' of salvation mentioned in Acts 11:14.
Romans 10:14This verse highlights the essential role of hearing the message ('words') before one can believe and be saved, echoing the promise in Acts 11:14 that specific words would bring salvation.
Luke 19:9Jesus declares salvation has come to Zacchaeus's house, paralleling the promise in Acts 11:14 that salvation would extend to Cornelius and his entire household.
Ephesians 2:8This passage emphasizes that salvation is a gift of God's grace received through faith, underscoring that the 'words' Peter would speak were the means through which God's gracious salvation would be offered.
jfbActs 11:14: "Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved."
- Who shall tell thee words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved—The historian makes the angel express this much more generally (Ac 10:6). So also the subsequent report of it by the deputies and by Cornelius himself to Peter (Ac 10:22, 32). But as Peter tarried with Cornelius certain days, and they doubtless talked over the wonderful scene together, perhaps this fuller and richer form of what the…
barnesActs 11:14: "Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved."
And all thy house - Thy family. This is a circumstance which his omitted in the account in Acts 10 :It is said, however, in Acts 10:2 , that Cornelius feared God with all his house. It is evident from Acts 10:48 that the family also received the ordinance of baptism, and was received into the church.
The angel's original message to Cornelius was about Peter telling him "what you must do" (Acts 10:6), but Peter recounts it as words "whereby you will be saved." This shift highlights that salvation isn't merely about following instructions, but about receiving and believing the transformative message of the Gospel itself.
This verse comes from Peter's account to the Jewish believers in Jerusalem about his encounter with Cornelius. They were questioning why he had associated with and entered the home of uncircumcised Gentiles. Peter is recounting the angel's message to Cornelius, which promised that Peter would deliver words leading to the salvation of Cornelius and his entire household.
This verse comes from Peter's account to the Jewish believers in Jerusalem about his encounter with Cornelius. They were questioning why he had associated with and entered the home of uncircumcised Gentiles. Peter is recounting the angel's message to Cornelius, which promised that Peter would deliver words leading to the salvation of Cornelius and his entire household.
"he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’" — The angel's original message to Cornelius was about Peter telling him "what you must do" (Acts 10:6), but Peter recounts it as words "whereby you will be saved." This shift highlights that salvation…
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Last reviewed October 2026