Acts 16:31
And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
In their response, Paul and Silas highlight something subtle: the jailer had called them "Sirs" (lords), but they immediately counter that there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, who holds the power to save. This wasn't just about receiving a new belief system; it was a radical declaration of Jesus' ultimate authority over everything.
Following a miraculous earthquake that freed them from prison, the Philippian jailer, gripped by fear and awe, desperately asked Paul and Silas how he could find salvation. Paul and Silas then offered him and his household a simple but profound invitation: believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. This invitation, extended immediately after the jailer's terrified question and before his baptism and subsequent rejoicing, was the direct answer to his desperate plea for salvation.
In a moment of utter crisis, the jailer asked, 'What must I do to be saved?' The answer wasn't complicated advice or a long to-do list. It was a simple, powerful command.
Faith as the Immediate Response
The apostles didn't tell the jailer to wait, to perform rituals, or to gradually seek God. Their instruction was direct: 'Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.' This highlights that faith isn't a passive state but an active choice to trust completely in Jesus for salvation.
The jailer's question was personal, but the apostles' answer expanded the offer to include his entire family. What does this profound inclusion mean for us today?
The Ripple Effect of Faith
The promise, 'you will be saved, you and your household,' is incredibly encouraging. It doesn't imply that family members are saved solely by the head of the household's faith, but that the offer of salvation extends to them, and the believing individual can be a powerful catalyst.
Understand the original words
pisteuō · Greek Verb
To trust in, rely upon, or cling to; it signifies an active, personal commitment to Jesus as both Savior and Sovereign. In a biblical context, it is the primary instrument by which a person receives the benefit of Christ's work.
kyrios · Greek Noun
Refers to the sovereign ruler of the universe and the Messiah, emphasizing his authority over creation and the church. It acknowledges Jesus as the One to whom all knee shall bow and who possesses absolute divine authority.
sōzō · Greek Verb
The deliverance from the penalty, power, and ultimately the presence of sin, accomplished by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. It involves being rescued from divine judgment and reconciled to God.
This dramatic conversion highlights the immediate and radical impact of the gospel, transforming a man whose job was to guard prisoners into a spiritual leader for his entire household, all within a single night.
c. AD 48
Paul's Second Missionary Journey Begins
Paul and his companions, including Silas, set out on a journey to strengthen churches and spread the gospel throughout Asia Minor and into Europe.
c. AD 49-50
Arrival in Philippi
Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke arrive in Philippi, a Roman colony in Macedonia, where they encounter Lydia and begin their ministry.
c. AD 49-50
Imprisonment in Philippi
After casting out a spirit of divination from a slave girl, Paul and Silas are arrested, beaten, and thrown into the Philippian prison.
c. AD 49-50— this verse
The Earthquake and Jailer's Conversion
A miraculous earthquake shakes the prison, opening all the doors. The jailer, fearing the prisoners have escaped, is about to kill himself when Paul intervenes.
This foundational verse echoes the promise of salvation offered to the jailer and his household, emphasizing that God's gift of eternal life is available to all who believe in Jesus.
Acts 2:38-39Peter's sermon at Pentecost directly parallels this promise, showing that the offer of salvation and the gift of the Holy Spirit were extended not just to individuals but to their families as well.
Romans 10:9-10This passage articulates the core of what it means to 'believe in the Lord Jesus' – confessing with your mouth and believing in your heart – highlighting the personal and public nature of saving faith.
Ephesians 2:8-9These verses underscore that salvation is a gift of grace through faith, not by works, aligning with the simple yet profound command given to the jailer and the assurance of salvation.
ellicottActs 16:31: "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."
(31) And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.—The plural pronoun is not without significance. St. Paul was not the only teacher. Silvanus also took part in the work of conversion. The words have naturally become, as it were, the crucial instance—standing nearly on the same level as that of the penitent robber on the cross—of the conditions of salvation. To believe in Christ, with all t…
bensonActs 16:31: "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."
Acts 16:31-34 . And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ — Whom it is our office to preach as the great and only Saviour; and confide wholly in him for salvation; loving, obeying, and living to his glory. As Paul had preached a considerable time at Philippi, the jailer, before this, must have heard of Jesus Christ, perhaps oftener than once: thou shalt be saved — Now and for ever, from…
In their response, Paul and Silas highlight something subtle: the jailer had called them "Sirs" (lords), but they immediately counter that there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, who holds the power to save. This wasn't just about receiving a new belief system; it was a radical declaration of Jesus' ultimate authority over everything.
Following a miraculous earthquake that freed them from prison, the Philippian jailer, gripped by fear and awe, desperately asked Paul and Silas how he could find salvation. Paul and Silas then offered him and his household a simple but profound invitation: believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. This invitation, extended immediately after the jailer's terrified question and before his baptism and subsequent rejoicing, was the direct answer to his desperate plea for salvation.
Following a miraculous earthquake that freed them from prison, the Philippian jailer, gripped by fear and awe, desperately asked Paul and Silas how he could find salvation. Paul and Silas then offered him and his household a simple but profound invitation: believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. This invitation, extended immediately after the jailer's terrified question and before his baptism and subsequent rejoicing, was the direct answer to his desperate plea for salvation.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Acts 16:31 is available in the Sola app.
c. AD 50
Release and Departure from Philippi
After their release and further instruction to the jailer's household, Paul and Silas depart Philippi, leaving behind a newly established and vibrant church.
"And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”" — In their response, Paul and Silas highlight something subtle: the jailer had called them "Sirs" (lords), but they immediately counter that there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, who holds the power…
