Acts 16 34

Acts 16:34 kjv

And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

Acts 16:34 nkjv

Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

Acts 16:34 niv

The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God?he and his whole household.

Acts 16:34 esv

Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

Acts 16:34 nlt

He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.

Acts 16 verses

Acts 16 34 Meaning

Acts 16:34 portrays the immediate and profound transformation of the Philippian jailer and his family following their conversion. It depicts his new nature, marked by overwhelming hospitality towards Paul and Silas, his former prisoners, and expresses an exuberant, shared joy among his entire household over their newfound faith in God. This verse encapsulates the radical shift from his initial fear and desperation to selfless service and exultant celebration of salvation.

Acts 16 34 Context

The verse is the immediate climax of the Philippian jailer's conversion narrative in Acts 16. Paul and Silas, after being unjustly beaten and imprisoned in Philippi, a Roman colony, experienced a miraculous earthquake that opened their cell doors and loosed their chains. The jailer, facing public disgrace and certain death for allowing prisoners to escape, was about to commit suicide when Paul intervened. His desperate question, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30), prompted the life-changing response, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household" (Acts 16:31). Immediately thereafter, the Gospel was preached to his household, their wounds were attended to, and both the jailer and his family were baptized (Acts 16:32-33). Acts 16:34 concludes this sequence, illustrating the dramatic and profound evidence of his new faith and the collective spiritual experience of his household, transforming a place of captivity into a dwelling of hospitality and joy.

Acts 16 34 Word analysis

• Then (τε, te): A simple connecting particle, yet it emphasizes the immediacy of the jailer's subsequent actions, showing direct and swift progression from baptism and care for Paul and Silas to this hospitality.
• he brought (Ἀγαγών, Agagōn): This participle, "having brought" or "led in," signifies the jailer's active and intentional initiative. His role dramatically reverses from captor (bringing them to prison) to welcoming host (bringing them into his home).
• them (αὐτοὺς, autous): Refers to Paul and Silas, who moments earlier were his prisoners. This highlights the complete reversal in their relationship.
• into his house (εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ, eis ton oikon autou): Oikos refers to the private home. The transition from public jail to private dwelling profoundly symbolizes the internal transformation from Roman legal duty and hostility to Christian care and welcome.
• and set food before them (παρέθηκεν τράπεζαν, parethēken trapezan): Paratithēmi means to place beside or serve, and trapeza means table, but signifies a meal. This act embodies profound hospitality and practical Christian love, caring for the physical needs of those he had previously persecuted, serving them after their suffering.
• And he rejoiced greatly (καὶ ἠγαλλιάσατο, kai ēgalliasato): This is a strong Greek word for joy (agalliaō), conveying exultant, spiritual elation. It's not mere happiness, but a profound, overwhelming delight arising from his new spiritual reality. The aorist tense indicates a complete and definite experience of this joy.
• along with his entire household (πανοικὶ, panoiki): An adverbial phrase meaning "with all his house" or "the whole family." It emphatically underlines that this profound joy was a collective experience, shared by every member of his domestic unit, emphasizing the corporate nature of their conversion and shared faith.
• that he had believed (πεπιστευκὼς, pepistekōs): This perfect active participle, "having believed," denotes a completed action with enduring results. His belief in God was settled and firm, the foundation of his transformed life and profound joy, rather than a fleeting emotion.
• in God (τῷ θεῷ, tō theō): Specifically names the object of their new faith—the one true God, distinct from any pagan deities or imperial cults, explicitly revealed through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Words-group analysis:

• "he brought them into his house and set food before them": This whole segment beautifully illustrates the outward, tangible evidence of the jailer's inner spiritual transformation. His immediate, humble act of hospitality towards his former prisoners represents genuine repentance and Christian love, demonstrating a profound shift from one whose duties involved harsh confinement to one who practices generous care and fellowship.
• "And he rejoiced along with his entire household": This phrase emphasizes the collective, shared joy of salvation within the family unit. The profound spiritual experience was not isolated to the jailer but embraced by all in his household, showcasing the communal aspect of faith and the Spirit's work, leading to shared exuberance and celebration.
• "that he had believed in God": This crucial phrase identifies the direct cause of their immense joy. Their settled, established faith (pepistekōs) in the one true God was the permanent wellspring of their exultation, highlighting that Christian joy flows directly from the new covenant relationship established through belief.

Acts 16 34 Bonus section

The profound reversal depicted in Acts 16:34 — from prison and chains to fellowship and feasting — serves as a microcosm of the Gospel message itself, turning despair into hope and enmity into familial love. In the Greco-Roman world, the paterfamilias (head of household) held immense authority, and his decisions, including religious ones, significantly impacted the family. While this cultural context explains the household's inclusion, the verse's emphasis on shared rejoicing (ἠγαλλιάσατο πανοικὶ) underscores that their embrace of faith was a genuine, collective spiritual experience, not mere forced compliance. This scene directly follows the washing of wounds and baptism (Acts 16:33), illustrating that acts of mercy, physical care, and the outward sign of inward faith lead directly into communal joy and spiritual fellowship, marking the very foundations of the early Church's life. The darkness and earthquake of the night gave way to light and warmth within a home, symbolizing the shift from judgment and fear to grace and joyous belonging in Christ.

Acts 16 34 Commentary

Acts 16:34 serves as a powerful testament to the immediate and life-altering effects of genuine conversion. The Philippian jailer's radical change of heart, evidenced by his gracious hospitality to those he previously confined and harmed, visibly demonstrates the transforming power of the Gospel. His action of serving Paul and Silas food, contrasting sharply with his earlier severity, reflects true repentance and the fruit of the Spirit, replacing fear and duty with love and service. Furthermore, the explicit mention of his "entire household" sharing in the "great joy" highlights the communal dimension of faith, where salvation brings collective celebration and renewal within the family unit. This profound exultation is directly attributed to "having believed in God," emphasizing that joy is an inherent outcome of authentic faith, marking the new spiritual reality and identity bestowed by divine grace. The verse underscores that the journey of faith culminates not just in belief, but in an overflowing, shared spiritual gladness that permeates every aspect of a believer's life.

• Practical Usage:
  • Genuine conversion leads to immediate, visible changes in character and actions, often expressed through generosity and kindness.
  • Spiritual joy is a profound and natural response to salvation, intended to be shared and celebrated within families and communities.
  • Hospitality, especially to those who have suffered or were once seen as 'enemies', becomes a hallmark of transformed hearts.