What is the meaning of Acts 16:31? They replied • Paul and Silas answer the jailer’s desperate question (Acts 16:30) without hesitation, showing that Scripture gives clear, authoritative counsel for anyone seeking eternal life. • Their immediate response echoes Peter at Pentecost (Acts 2:37-38) and Philip with the Ethiopian (Acts 8:35-38): God’s servants consistently proclaim the same message. • This scene reminds us to “always be prepared to give an answer” (1 Peter 3:15), pointing people straight to God’s remedy instead of human advice. Believe • Salvation is received through trust, not earned by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). • “Believe” means resting your whole confidence on Christ’s finished work, as Jesus declared in John 3:16 and confirmed in Romans 10:9-10. • The call is personal and immediate; the jailer must choose for himself—today (2 Corinthians 6:2). in the Lord Jesus • Faith’s object is specific: the crucified and risen Lord (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). • “Lord” emphasizes His authority (Philippians 2:9-11); “Jesus” emphasizes His saving mission (Matthew 1:21). • No other name saves (Acts 4:12); Christ alone bridges the gap (John 14:6). and you will be saved, • God promises a sure result, not a vague hope (1 John 5:11-13). • “Will be” signals certainty—those who believe pass “from death to life” (John 5:24). • Salvation covers forgiveness (Colossians 1:13-14), new birth (Titus 3:5-6), and eternal security (John 10:28-29). you and your household. • The invitation extends beyond the jailer to everyone under his roof, reflecting God’s heart for families (Acts 2:39; Genesis 7:1; Joshua 24:15). • Each member must still believe personally, as later verses show when all heard the word and were baptized (Acts 16:32-34). • When a household leader turns to Christ, the ripple effect often draws others—illustrated again with Crispus in Acts 18:8. summary Acts 16:31 offers a concise, trustworthy roadmap to salvation: place your full faith in the risen Lord Jesus and you will be saved—an unbreakable promise that can reach an entire household when each person likewise believes. |
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