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Acts 16

Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:

Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.

Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.

And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,

After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.

And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.

And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;

And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.

And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.

And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:

The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,

And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,

And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.

And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.

And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

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.

And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.

And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.

But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.

And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.

And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.

And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.

What does Acts 16:33 mean?

Explanation

Acts 16:33 describes an event that occurred during Paul and Silas's missionary work in the city of Philippi, a story which is a significant example of conversion in the New Testament.

This verse tells of the actions taken by a Philippian jailer after an earthquake miraculously freed Paul, Silas, and the other prisoners.

Instead of escaping, they stayed, which led the jailer to ask them what he must do to be saved.

They responded, telling him to believe in the Lord Jesus, and he would be saved, along with his household.

The verse highlights the immediate baptism of the jailer and his household, which is of particular significance.

The "same hour of the night" expression emphasizes the urgency and the profound impact that the experience had on the jailer.

Washing their stripes indicates a gesture of care and repentance, as the jailer tended to the wounds Paul and Silas had suffered from being beaten earlier.

The phrase "he and all his" reflects that the entire household accepted the Christian faith and were baptized "straightway," or immediately, which underscores the transformative power of faith and the spreading of the Gospel message.

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Historical Context

Acts 16:33 is set during Paul's second missionary journey, which took place around A.D. 50-52.

Philippi was a Roman colony in Macedonia, and this account is one of the first instances of Christianity spreading in Europe.

At this time, the early Christian community was growing, yet encountering various forms of resistance.

The practice of baptism was already established as an important Christian sacrament, a symbolic act of purification and initiation into the community of believers.

Earlier in Acts chapter 16, Paul and Silas were imprisoned after exorcising a spirit from a slave girl, leading to economic loss for her masters and resulting in charges against Paul and Silas.

Their Roman citizenship, which would later exempt them from unjust treatment, was initially unknown to their persecutors.

Theological Insights

Different theological perspectives can be drawn from this verse:

From a soteriological perspective, the verse emphasizes the importance of faith in Christ for salvation, as seen when the jailer and his household were baptized following their declaration of faith.
In ecclesiology (the study of the church), this event signifies the growth of the early Christian church, particularly spreading to the Gentiles, and also reflects the communal aspect of conversion, given that the whole household was involved.
Baptismal theology finds a strong basis here for advocating immediate baptism upon confession of faith, rather than a prolonged catechetical process.
Regarding Christology (the study of the nature and work of Christ), the verse strengthens the belief in Jesus as the source of salvation for all who believe, regardless of their previous life, occupation, or background.

Practical Applications

This verse suggests several practical applications for daily life:

Urgency in responding to one's convictions can be derived from the jailer's immediate action.
The principle of caring for those who are in need despite past conflicts, demonstrated by the jailer washing the wounds of Paul and Silas.
The passage encourages inclusivity and the idea that salvation through faith in Jesus Christ is available to all, including one's immediate community or household.
It also serves as a model for the practices of hospitality and restitution.

Cross-References

Acts 2:38 - "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
Mark 16:16 - "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."
Acts 8:36-38 - "And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?"

Language Study

In the original Greek language, several key words stand out in this verse:

"Washed" (Greek: "elousen") refers to the physical act of cleansing, indicative of care and compassion.
"Baptized" (Greek: "ebaptisthe") is the past passive form of the verb "baptizō", signifying immersion or submersion, a term regularly used to describe the Christian rite of initiation.
"Straightway" (Greek: "eutheōs") implies immediate action without delay.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The act of baptism in Acts 16:33 can be compared culturally and religiously to other purification rites found in various ancient religions and cultures. For instance, in Judaism, there are purification rituals involving water, such as the mikveh.

However, Christian baptism is distinct in its association with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the idea of a new birth or a new life.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, the act of baptism is more of a symbol and carries no intrinsic properties that would lead to a physical transformation.

The psychological impact, however, of a significant event like baptism can have tangible effects on stress levels, community integration, and personal identity.

Commentaries

Various Bible commentaries provide insights into Acts 16:33:

Matthew Henry's commentary emphasizes God's providence in the earthquake and the timing of the jailer's conversion.
The Pulpit Commentary discusses the significance of the whole family being baptized, which reflects the practice in the early Church.
John Calvin's commentary also notes the speed of the baptism, promoting the idea that baptisms should not be unnecessarily delayed once one professes faith in Christ.

Acts 16

Acts 16

What does Acts 16:33 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 16:33 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?