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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 16:34 mean?

Explanation

Acts 16:34 depicts a transformative event in the life of a Philippian jailer.

The verse captures the immediate aftermath of his conversion to Christianity.

It follows a dramatic episode where Paul and Silas, having been imprisoned for casting out a spirit from a slave girl, are miraculously freed from their chains by an earthquake.

Upon realizing the prisoners are not escaped, the jailer is moved by the preaching of Paul and Silas and converts to Christianity.

The verse shows the jailer bringing Paul and Silas into his home, serving them a meal, and celebrating with joy the newfound faith that now encompasses his entire household.

The literal meaning is clear: the jailer is expressing his hospitality and gratitude by providing sustenance to his guests.

The deeper meaning signifies the immediate transformation that faith has wrought in the jailer: his actions are a demonstration of Christian love and fellowship, as well as a personal transformation from jailer to host and believer.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts 16:34 is set within the Roman colony of Philippi during the First Century AD.

Christianity was still a nascent religion spreading through the Roman Empire. As such, converts typically came from diverse backgrounds, including Roman paganism and Judaism.

This verse encapsulates the early Christian emphasis on converting gentiles as well as the profound and immediate change in lifestyle and beliefs that new converts experienced.

Philippi itself was a strategic city along the Via Egnatia, which made it a significant location for the spread of Christianity.

The account of the Philippian jailer's conversion reflects the early evangelistic efforts of Paul and his companions and demonstrates how Christianity was influencing various social classes, including Roman officials.

Theological Insights

Different theological viewpoints offer varied insights into this verse.

From a salvation-historical perspective, this verse exemplifies the movement of God's redemption expanding beyond the Jewish people to include Gentiles. It illustrates the fulfillment of the Great Commission given by Jesus to his disciples to make disciples of all nations.

Reformed theology may emphasize God's sovereignty in the jailer's conversion, viewing it as an instance of effectual calling.

Meanwhile, Wesleyan-Arminian theology might focus on the human response to the preached Word and the grace of God allowing for the jailer's free will decision to believe in God.

Catholic commentary might highlight the communal aspect of the jailer's conversion , that his whole household is baptized and that he serves them a meal, which could be seen as a precursor to the communal nature of the Eucharist.

Practical Applications

This verse provides several practical applications:

Hospitality and generosity are important Christian virtues to embrace. 2.

Radical life transformation is a possible outcome of genuine faith. 3.

The immediate response to God’s action with joy and service is a model for believers. 4.

The importance of community and sharing the faith with those in one's own household is emphasized.

Cross-References

Acts 2:46-47: "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people.

And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."

Acts 16:15: "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."

Language Study

In the original Greek, key words of interest include:

"Rejoiced" (ἠγαλλιάσατο): Often used in the New Testament to express great joy or exultation, particularly in a religious or spiritual context.
"Believing" (πιστεύσας): From the Greek word "pisteuo," which means to have faith or trust in, often in the context of placing one's faith in God.
"House" (οἴκῳ): While it literally refers to a dwelling place, it often extends to mean the household or family living within.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The emphasis on household conversion may be contrasted with other religions' and belief systems' focus on individual conversion.

Additionally, the act of sharing a meal is a near-universal sign of fellowship and acceptance across many cultures and can be compared to communal practices in other religious traditions.

Scientific Perspectives

The conversion described in Acts 16:34 is not something that scientific perspectives can directly address, as it hinges on personal religious experience and faith.

However, modern psychology may provide insight into the transformative power of religious conversion experiences, including the potential for significant changes in behavior, ethical orientation, and personal identity.

Commentaries

John Calvin comments on this verse by emphasizing the joy of the jailer, pointing out that it comes from his faith and shows a true understanding of God's grace.
Matthew Henry's commentary provides insight into the idea of the domestic church, noting the importance of the jailer's whole house being baptized and coming to faith together.
The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary highlights the evidence of genuine conversion presented by the jailer's actions, particularly his concern for the apostles' welfare and his joy in believing.

Acts 16

Acts 16

What does Acts 16:34 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 16:34 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?