Acts 16:31

Authorized King James Version

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

Original Language Analysis

οἱ G3588
οἱ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 1 of 16
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
δὲ And G1161
δὲ And
Strong's: G1161
Word #: 2 of 16
but, and, etc
εἶπον, they said G2036
εἶπον, they said
Strong's: G2036
Word #: 3 of 16
to speak or say (by word or writing)
Πίστευσον Believe G4100
Πίστευσον Believe
Strong's: G4100
Word #: 4 of 16
to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e., credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to ch
ἐπὶ on G1909
ἐπὶ on
Strong's: G1909
Word #: 5 of 16
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re
τὸν G3588
τὸν
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 6 of 16
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
κύριον the Lord G2962
κύριον the Lord
Strong's: G2962
Word #: 7 of 16
supreme in authority, i.e., (as noun) controller; by implication, master (as a respectful title)
Ἰησοῦν Jesus G2424
Ἰησοῦν Jesus
Strong's: G2424
Word #: 8 of 16
jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites
Χριστὸν, Christ G5547
Χριστὸν, Christ
Strong's: G5547
Word #: 9 of 16
anointed, i.e., the messiah, an epithet of jesus
καὶ and G2532
καὶ and
Strong's: G2532
Word #: 10 of 16
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
σωθήσῃ shalt be saved G4982
σωθήσῃ shalt be saved
Strong's: G4982
Word #: 11 of 16
to save, i.e., deliver or protect (literally or figuratively)
σὺ thou G4771
σὺ thou
Strong's: G4771
Word #: 12 of 16
thou
καὶ and G2532
καὶ and
Strong's: G2532
Word #: 13 of 16
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 #: 14 of 16
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
οἶκός house G3624
οἶκός house
Strong's: G3624
Word #: 15 of 16
a dwelling (more or less extensive, literal or figurative); by implication, a family (more or less related, literally or figuratively)
σου thy G4675
σου thy
Strong's: G4675
Word #: 16 of 16
of thee, thy

Analysis & Commentary

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house—The simplest gospel presentation in Scripture: salvation by faith alone in Christ alone. Believe on (πίστευσον ἐπί) means trust resting upon Christ as object, not mere mental assent. The Lord Jesus Christ identifies Jesus as sovereign deity (Lord), Messiah (Christ), and savior (Jesus='Yahweh saves'). Thou shalt be saved (σωθήσῃ) promises certain salvation—future indicative, not hypothetical possibility. And thy house extends the promise to his household, fulfilled immediately (v.34) as his family believed and was baptized. This doesn't teach proxy faith but corporate evangelism.

Historical Context

Paul's immediate answer to the jailer's question (v.30). The simplicity reflects the urgent moment—no lengthy sermon, just the gospel essence. They spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house (v.32) indicates fuller explanation followed. The jailer washed their wounds (v.33a), then Paul baptized him and his household (v.33b), demonstrating salvation's immediate fruit: compassion and public Christian identification.

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