Acts 11:14
Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
Original Language Analysis
οἷς
Who
G3739
οἷς
Who
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
1 of 14
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
ῥήματα
words
G4487
ῥήματα
words
Strong's:
G4487
Word #:
3 of 14
an utterance (individually, collectively or specially),; by implication, a matter or topic (especially of narration, command or dispute); with a negat
πρὸς
thee
G4314
πρὸς
thee
Strong's:
G4314
Word #:
4 of 14
a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e., toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e., pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of,
οἷς
Who
G3739
οἷς
Who
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
7 of 14
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
σωθήσῃ
shall be saved
G4982
σωθήσῃ
shall be saved
Strong's:
G4982
Word #:
8 of 14
to save, i.e., deliver or protect (literally or figuratively)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
10 of 14
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
12 of 14
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Cross References
Acts 10:22And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.Acts 16:15And 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.Acts 10:2A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.Acts 10:6He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.Acts 2:39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.John 20:31But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.Genesis 17:7And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.Psalms 103:17But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;Psalms 112:2His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.Proverbs 20:7The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
Historical Context
Words whereby...saved identifies gospel proclamation as salvation's means. God used angel to direct but human messenger to save—establishing pattern that means of grace work through human proclamation. All thy house indicates household salvation pattern common in Acts (Acts 16:31, 18:8). Around 40 CE, this expanded covenant household concept beyond ethnic Israel to Gentile families receiving gospel collectively.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God use human messengers rather than angels for gospel proclamation?
- What does household salvation reveal about covenant community structure?
- How do words function as means of saving grace?
- In what ways does this establish human proclamation's indispensable role?
- What relationship exists between hearing words and experiencing salvation?
Analysis & Commentary
Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. The angel's prophecy identifies Peter as messenger of salvation, emphasizing gospel proclamation as God's ordained means while extending promise to entire household.