King James Version

What Does Acts 16:31 Mean?

“And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

Context

Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes ; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

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Topics in This Verse

Faith Salvation

Commentary

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(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 that this faith involved, was to obtain salvation, *i.e., *deliverance from sin, and not only from the penalty of sin, in this world and in the world to come. The Greek presents a contrast which is lost in the English. He had called them by the usual title of respect, *Kyrii* (= Sirs, or Lords); they answer that there is one *Kyrios, *the Lord Jesus Christ, who alone can save.

Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Acts. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Acts 16:31 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.