Acts 16:31

Context

In Philippi, Paul and Silas healed a slave girl possessed by a spirit of divination. Her masters brought charges against them, and the two were beaten and thrown into prison. At midnight, as they prayed and sang praises, a great earthquake opened the prison doors. The jailer assumed the prisoners had escaped and was about to kill himself. When Paul stopped him, the jailer, trembling, asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" (v. 30). Verse 31 is the answer. Paul then spoke the word of the Lord to the jailer and to all who were in his house. The jailer and all his household were baptized, and he rejoiced, "believing in God with all his house" (vv. 32–34).

Interpretation

• Salvation received by faith: Interpreters emphasize that the only condition of salvation given is "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ." The verse is often cited as a concise illustration of justification by faith.
• "Thou … and thy house": Most interpreters hold that the phrase does not mean every family member is saved automatically. Rather, the same path of faith is open to the whole household. Because verses 32–34 record that the entire household heard the word and believed, these interpreters conclude that each member of the family must personally believe. Many sermons, however, read the verse as a promise that God works through households, so that one person's faith opens the door of the gospel to the rest of the family (1 Corinthians 7:14).

Debates and Issues

The statement that the jailer was baptized, "he and all his," is counted among the examples of "household baptism," together with the household of Lydia (16:15) and the household of Stephanas in Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:16). Churches that practice infant baptism, including Presbyterian, Methodist, and Anglican churches, cite these cases as evidence that the covenant is given to households, as circumcision was in the Old Testament. Baptists and others observe that the text does not mention young children. They also note that the whole household heard the word, believed, and rejoiced. For these reasons, they read these passages as describing the baptism of people able to profess faith. For details, see Infant Baptism Controversy.

In Korean Churches

In Korean Protestant churches, the verse is the best-known text for prayer for "family salvation." It is the promise church members with unbelieving relatives cite most often. It is frequently quoted during New Year pastoral visits to bless households. It is also quoted when believers commit to pray for prospective converts (taesinja).

Related Passages

• Acts 16:30–34
• Acts 16:14–15
• Acts 11:14
• 1 Corinthians 7:14