Acts 16 33

Acts 16:33 kjv

And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

Acts 16:33 nkjv

And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.

Acts 16:33 niv

At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.

Acts 16:33 esv

And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.

Acts 16:33 nlt

Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized.

Acts 16 verses

Acts 16 33 Meaning

Acts 16:33 vividly describes the immediate transformation and action of the Philippian jailer after his conversion. Filled with new faith, he took Paul and Silas from their cells, personally tending to their wounds that very night, and without delay, he and everyone in his household were baptized, signifying their repentance and belief in Jesus Christ.

Acts 16 33 Context

Acts 16:33 follows the dramatic events in Philippi where Paul and Silas, after delivering a young woman from a spirit of divination, were publicly beaten and imprisoned on false charges (Acts 16:16-24). In the prison, they praised God, and an earthquake miraculously opened the prison doors (Acts 16:25-26). The jailer, assuming the prisoners had escaped, prepared to take his own life (Acts 16:27). Paul's call prevents this (Acts 16:28), leading to the jailer's profound question: "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30). Paul and Silas proclaim the gospel, and the jailer believes, bringing them into his home and caring for their wounds, culminating in his and his household's baptism. The setting is Roman Philippi, where a paterfamilias (head of the household) held significant authority and influence over his entire household, often making spiritual decisions that extended to everyone under his care.

Acts 16 33 Word analysis

• And he took them (παραλαβὼν αὐτοὺς – paralabōn autous): The Greek paralambanō implies taking someone to oneself, often for assistance or companionship. Here, it indicates the jailer's active and caring initiative to bring Paul and Silas from their cell into his personal space, likely his private living quarters within the prison compound. This is a complete reversal of his previous role as their captor.
• the same hour of the night (ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ὥρᾳ τῆς νυκτὸς – en ekeinē tē hōra tēs nuktos): The Greek hora signifies a specific point in time, and nyktos indicates it's deep in the night, probably well after midnight following the earthquake. This emphasizes the urgency and immediacy of the jailer's response to his newfound faith. There was no delay, no waiting until morning, indicating profound spiritual conviction and unhesitating obedience.
• and washed their stripes (ἔλουσεν τὰς πληγάς – elousen tas plēgas): The Greek verb louō refers to a full cleansing or washing. Plēgas denotes the physical marks or wounds from a beating or scourging, inflicted on Paul and Silas earlier (Acts 16:22-23). This act of personal service by the jailer is deeply significant. It demonstrates compassion, humility, and repentance. The one who had oversight of their suffering now lovingly ministers to their pain, highlighting the transformative power of the gospel.
• and was baptized (ἐβαπτίσθη – ebaptisthē): The Greek baptizō means to immerse, submerge, or dip. Here, in the aorist passive, it denotes the act of being baptized. This immediate baptism signals his public declaration of faith and identification with Christ, cleansing, and initiation into the Christian community, without prolonged instruction or a waiting period. It also serves as a polemic against the often elaborate and lengthy initiation rites found in pagan cults or philosophies of the time, presenting a direct, grace-filled conversion.
• he and all his household (αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ αὐτοῦ πάντες – autos kai hoi autou pantes): The Greek autos is "he himself," and hoi autou pantes refers to "all those of his" or "all his household." The 'household' (οἶκος – oikos) in Greco-Roman society included not just immediate family members but also extended family, servants, and slaves, all under the authority and influence of the paterfamilias. This signifies a corporate spiritual decision or impact, often implying that as the head believed, his household either believed with him or submitted to his new faith, undergoing baptism as part of his spiritual leadership. This points to the gospel's pervasive influence reaching entire family units.

Acts 16 33 Bonus section

The immediate baptism of the Philippian jailer and his household often serves as a point of theological discussion concerning infant baptism (pedobaptism). While the text clearly states "he and all his household," it does not explicitly mention the ages or spiritual comprehension of every individual within that household. For proponents of credobaptism (believer's baptism), the prerequisite of the jailer's belief (Acts 16:31-32) is understood to apply to all baptized members capable of belief, implying a household of believers. For proponents of pedobaptism, the household context aligns with covenant theology, where children are included in the covenant community through the faith of the parent, echoing Old Testament circumcision. Regardless of this specific interpretation, the verse consistently highlights the unifying effect of the gospel on a family unit and the importance of prompt obedience. The act of washing stripes by a Roman jailer, a figure often associated with brutality and enforcing punishment, powerfully contradicts societal norms, highlighting a radical moral and spiritual shift brought about by Christ's redemption.

Acts 16 33 Commentary

Acts 16:33 presents a profound illustration of authentic Christian conversion and its immediate outworking. The jailer's initial terror is swiftly replaced by deep spiritual understanding and practical love. His act of washing Paul and Silas's wounds demonstrates genuine compassion and humility—a tangible sign of his changed heart. This action represents an inversion of power dynamics and a fulfillment of the principle of caring for the suffering. The promptness of his baptism, along with his entire household, emphasizes the urgency and importance of openly confessing faith and obeying Christ's command without delay. It shows that faith is not a mere intellectual assent but produces immediate, visible fruits—both in service to others and in public commitment to Christ. This swift transformation underscores the efficacy of the gospel message and the power of the Holy Spirit to convert and renew lives instantaneously, fostering new priorities centered on Christ and neighbor.