Acts 16:31

Context

In Philippi, Paul and Silas heal a slave girl possessed by a spirit of divination. Her masters bring charges against them, and the two are beaten and thrown into prison. At midnight, as they pray and sing hymns, a great earthquake opens the prison doors. The jailer, assuming the prisoners have escaped, is about to kill himself. When Paul stops him, the jailer, trembling, asks, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" (v. 30). Verse 31 is Paul's answer. Paul then speaks the word of the Lord to the jailer and to all who are in his house; the jailer and all his household are baptized, and he rejoices, "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": The common interpretation is not that every family member is saved automatically, but that 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, interpreters conclude that each member of the family must personally believe. On the other hand, many sermons 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 record 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, such as Presbyterian, Methodist, and Anglican churches, cite these cases as evidence that the covenant is given to households, much as circumcision was in the Old Testament. Baptists and others note that the text makes no mention of young children and that the whole household heard the word, believed, and rejoiced; they therefore read these passages as describing the baptism of those able to profess faith. For details, see the article Infant Baptism Controversy.

In the Korean Church

The verse is the best-known text for prayer for "family salvation" and the promise most often claimed by church members with unbelieving relatives. It is frequently quoted during New Year pastoral visits to bless households and when believers commit to pray for prospective converts.

Related Passages

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