Acts 16 30

Acts 16:30 kjv

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

Acts 16:30 nkjv

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

Acts 16:30 niv

He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

Acts 16:30 esv

Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

Acts 16:30 nlt

Then he brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

Acts 16 verses

Acts 16 30 Meaning

Acts 16:30 captures a pivotal moment of spiritual awakening and urgent inquiry. Following miraculous events—an earthquake, loosened chains, and opened prison doors—the Philippian jailer, saved from suicide by Paul's intervention, brings Paul and Silas out of the inner prison. Overcome with awe and terror, he prostrates himself before them, asking the universal and timeless question that pierces the human heart: "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" This question, initially stemming from fear for his life and the Roman punishment for escaped prisoners, rapidly deepens into a profound plea for spiritual deliverance as he perceives a power far greater than his own, signaling a turning point from a life under Roman law to seeking divine truth.

Acts 16 30 Context

Acts 16:30 occurs within the narrative of Paul and Silas's first missionary journey, specifically in the Roman colony of Philippi. After delivering a young fortune-telling slave girl from an evil spirit, Paul and Silas are arrested, severely beaten, and unjustly thrown into the innermost prison, their feet fastened in stocks (Acts 16:16-24). Around midnight, while they are praying and singing hymns, a violent earthquake shakes the prison, opening all the doors and loosening everyone's chains (Acts 16:25-26).

The jailer, awakening and seeing the prison doors open, immediately assumes the prisoners have escaped. Knowing Roman law dictates that he would suffer the same punishment as his escaped prisoners, he draws his sword to commit suicide to avoid disgrace and excruciating death (Acts 16:27). However, Paul cries out, assuring him, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here" (Acts 16:28). This divine intervention and Paul's astonishing concern for his well-being shock the jailer. He calls for lights, rushes into the prison, falls trembling before Paul and Silas, brings them out of the confined space, and then utters the urgent question in verse 30. His question reflects his utter desperation, a mix of physical fear, supernatural awe, and an dawning awareness of a spiritual reality beyond his understanding.

Acts 16 30 Word analysis

• And brought them out: (Greek: kai proagagōn autous exō)

  • And (καὶ - kai): Simple conjunction, linking this action to the jailer's previous act of calling for lights, rushing in, falling down in terror (Acts 16:29).
  • brought out (προαγαγὼν - proagagōn): An aorist participle, indicating a completed action that precedes or accompanies the main verb ("he said"). Proagagō literally means "to lead forth, bring forward, or lead out." It signifies his initiative in physically moving Paul and Silas from the dark, inner prison to a place where he could directly address them, likely a more open, less oppressive area of the prison compound. This action shows a drastic reversal of his role, from jailer to one seeking guidance from his former prisoners.
  • them (αὐτοὺς - autous): Referring to Paul and Silas.
  • out (ἔξω - exō): Reinforces the physical action of bringing them outside the cell or into a more accessible area. It highlights the jailer's urgent need to address them in a space where serious dialogue could occur, contrasting with the previous brutal confinement.

• and said: (Greek: ephē)

  • said (ἔφη - ephē): Imperfect active indicative of phēmi, meaning "to say or declare." This form often indicates an immediate and direct statement, here leading into the vital question.

• Sirs: (Greek: Κύριοι - Kyrioi)

  • Vocative plural of Kyrios, meaning "lord, master, sir." This address is a monumental shift. Just hours before, the jailer had beaten them and secured them in stocks. Now, he addresses them with profound respect, reverence, and even submission. It's more than simple politeness; it reflects his recognition of their authority, particularly spiritual authority, after witnessing their divine protection and power. It conveys awe and an acknowledgement that these men possess answers to a desperate need he suddenly comprehends.

• what must I do: (Greek: τί με δεῖ ποιεῖν - ti me dei poiein)

  • what (τί - ti): An urgent interrogative pronoun, expressing the specific and personal nature of his question.
  • me (με - me): Accusative singular pronoun, emphasizing the intensely personal nature of his plight. His focus is on his own salvation, having realized his personal peril.
  • must (δεῖ - dei): An impersonal verb meaning "it is necessary," "it is proper," or "it behooves." This is a crucial word, denoting an absolute and urgent necessity. It implies a divine imperative, a moral or spiritual obligation beyond mere human advice. He isn't asking for suggestions, but for a non-negotiable requirement. He recognizes he needs to do something critical.
  • to do (ποιεῖν - poiein): Present active infinitive of poiéō, "to do, to make, to perform." His cultural context, likely influenced by Roman moral codes and any pagan or Jewish interactions, naturally led him to think of salvation in terms of works or ritual actions. He's asking for a formula, a procedure, a set of actions to gain this "salvation." This highlights the universal human tendency to believe in earning favor from deities or spiritual forces through effort.

• to be saved?: (Greek: ἵνα σωθῶ - hina sōthō?)

  • to (ἵνα - hina): A subordinating conjunction introducing a purpose clause, "in order that" or "that." He states the purpose for his doing.
  • be saved (σωθῶ - sōthō): Aorist passive subjunctive of sōzō. The passive voice ("to be saved") implies that salvation is something received, not merely achieved by oneself. Sōzō in the New Testament has rich meaning. Initially, for the jailer, "saved" might have primarily referred to physical deliverance—saving himself from the emperor's wrath or eternal perdition from a vengeful deity following such a miraculous escape. However, given Paul's message earlier (Acts 16:17: "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation") and the evident supernatural events, the term for him is undoubtedly imbued with profound spiritual significance, meaning rescue from spiritual death, sin, and God's judgment, leading to eternal life. It represents deliverance in its fullest sense.

• "what must I do to be saved?": This phrase is an urgent cry from a heart suddenly awakened to spiritual realities and his own profound need. It transitions from fear of physical death to the deeper dread of spiritual judgment. This concise question is a classic articulation of the human predicament when confronted by the divine and the need for redemption. The "do" immediately calls for a works-based answer, but the forthcoming response from Paul and Silas shifts this expectation entirely to faith.

Acts 16 30 Bonus section

The account of the Philippian jailer’s conversion is often cited for several key insights into Christian theology and evangelism:

• Divine Initiative and Preparation: The earthquake, while seemingly a natural disaster, is presented as a miraculous, divine act directly orchestrating the circumstances for the jailer's encounter with the gospel. It prepared his heart by instilling awe and fear, breaking down his defenses and worldly worldview.
• The Simplicity of the Gospel: The question "What must I do to be saved?" and Paul's direct, simple answer "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31) provides a succinct and universally accessible articulation of the core of the Christian message. It bypasses complex rituals or prolonged penance, pointing directly to personal faith.
• Immediate Transformation and Its Fruits: The jailer's conversion is remarkably swift, leading to immediate actions that demonstrate his new faith: washing Paul and Silas's wounds, sharing food, and opening his home for evangelism. These are not merely performative acts but flow from a transformed heart, fulfilling the expectation that true faith produces good works (James 2:17).
• The Household Conversion: The promise "and your household" (Acts 16:31) highlights the family-inclusive nature of the gospel in ancient cultures, where the head of the household's decision often had a profound impact on his entire family. This sets a pattern for Christian mission that often involves converting families.
• Cross-Cultural Appeal of the Gospel: The jailer, a Roman military officer and a Gentile, represents the gospel's ability to transcend ethnic, social, and political boundaries, extending salvation beyond Jewish circles to the entire world.

Acts 16 30 Commentary

Acts 16:30 serves as a powerful testament to the transformative power of God's presence and a critical articulation of the human search for salvation. The jailer, a figure representing Roman authority and the rigidity of law, is utterly shattered and remade by the divine intervention of the earthquake and Paul’s compassion. His initial terror, which almost led to self-destruction, rapidly transforms into spiritual brokenness and a deep longing for meaning and security. His question, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?", encapsulates the universal cry of a convicted soul seeking an escape from sin, death, and spiritual judgment. It shows a profound shift in allegiance: from trusting in Roman order and his own authority, he now turns to Paul and Silas, men previously under his charge, as a source of divine truth.

The urgency reflected in "what must I do" (δεῖ) underscores his understanding of salvation not as an optional endeavor but as a divine imperative. His immediate inclination to ask about "doing" (ποιεῖν) points to the natural human inclination towards a works-based understanding of righteousness, typical across various religious traditions, ancient and modern. However, this foundational question sets the stage for Paul's simple yet profound answer in the following verse: salvation is not achieved through human effort or rituals but through faith alone in Jesus Christ. The rapid conversion that follows, leading to his entire household’s baptism and demonstrable change of life, illustrates the immediate and practical implications of genuine faith. This moment in Philippi vividly portrays how God works through extraordinary circumstances to open hearts from all walks of life to the simplicity and power of the gospel.