Acts 11:14

KJV

Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.

KJV (with Strong's)

Who {G3739} shall tell {G2980} thee {G4314}{G4571} words {G4487}, whereby {G1722}{G3739} thou {G4771} and {G2532} all {G3956} thy {G4675} house {G3624} shall be saved {G4982}.

Complete Jewish Bible

He has a message for you which will enable you and your whole household to be saved.’

Berean Standard Bible

He will convey to you a message by which you and all your household will be saved.’

American Standard Version

who shall speak unto thee words, whereby thou shalt be saved, thou and all thy house.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 11:14 encapsulates the divine promise given to Cornelius, a devout Gentile, through an angelic messenger, subsequently relayed by Peter to the Jerusalem church. This pivotal verse highlights that Peter was chosen to deliver specific "words" – the Gospel message – through which Cornelius and his entire household would receive salvation. It underscores God's sovereign initiative in extending His redemptive plan beyond the Jewish nation, setting the stage for the full inclusion of Gentiles into the nascent Christian community and demonstrating the comprehensive power of the Gospel to transform individuals and families.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Acts 11:14 is embedded within Peter's defense before the apostles and brethren in Jerusalem, explaining his controversial interaction with Gentiles (Acts 11:1-18). Peter recounts the entire sequence of events from [Acts 10](/acts/10 "Acts 10 - Peter and Cornelius"), beginning with Cornelius's angelic vision (Acts 10:3-6) where he was instructed to send for Peter. The angel's specific instruction to Cornelius, "Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved," is quoted verbatim by Peter in [Acts 11:14](/acts/11-14 "Acts 11:14 - The Angel's Promise to Cornelius"). This verse serves as the divine mandate that compelled Peter, despite his initial reservations, to preach the Gospel to Cornelius's household, culminating in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on them (Acts 10:44-48) and validating their conversion to the skeptical Jewish believers in Jerusalem.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The early church was predominantly Jewish, operating within a framework deeply influenced by Mosaic Law, which included strict dietary regulations and separation from Gentiles, often considered "unclean" (cf. [Acts 10:28](/acts/10-28 "Acts 10:28 - Peter's Realization")). Cornelius, a Roman centurion, was a "God-fearer," a Gentile who worshipped the God of Israel but had not fully converted to Judaism. His devoutness and charitable acts (Acts 10:2) were recognized by God, yet he lacked the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. The divine intervention for both Peter and Cornelius, culminating in this verse, dramatically broke down centuries of cultural and religious barriers. It signified a radical shift from a covenant primarily with Israel to a new covenant open to all nations, challenging deeply ingrained Jewish ethnocentrism and paving the way for a truly multi-ethnic church.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Acts. Foremost is the **Expansion of the Gospel** beyond Jewish confines, illustrating God's universal salvific purpose. It highlights **Divine Initiative**, as God orchestrates the encounter through visions for both Peter and Cornelius, demonstrating His sovereignty in mission. The promise of salvation for "all thy house" introduces the significant theme of **Household Salvation**, where the faith of the head of the household often leads to the conversion of the entire family unit, as seen later with [the Philippian jailer](/acts/16-31-34 "Acts 16:31-34 - The Philippian Jailer's Household"). Furthermore, it underscores the **Power of the Spoken Word** (the Gospel message) as the instrument of salvation, and the **Overcoming of Prejudice**, as Peter's experience leads him to declare in [Acts 10:34-35](/acts/10-34-35 "Acts 10:34-35 - God Shows No Partiality") that "God is no respecter of persons."

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **words (Greek, _rhēma'_):** This term (G4487) refers to an utterance, a specific spoken word, or a matter/topic. In this context, it signifies the precise, life-giving message that Peter was to deliver. It is not just any words, but the divinely appointed message of the Gospel concerning Jesus Christ, His death, resurrection, and the call to repentance and faith. This emphasizes that salvation is mediated through the hearing and reception of a specific divine communication.
* **house (Greek, _oîkos'_):** The Greek word (G3624) denotes a dwelling, a home, or by implication, a family or household. This is crucial as it extends the scope of salvation beyond Cornelius as an individual to include his entire domestic unit – his family members, servants, and dependents. It reflects a common biblical pattern where the head of the household's spiritual decision had profound implications for those under their authority and care, demonstrating God's desire to bless and save entire family units.
* **shall be saved (Greek, _sṓzō'_):** This verb (G4982) means to save, deliver, preserve, or heal. While it can have physical connotations, in this theological context, it primarily refers to spiritual salvation – deliverance from the penalty and power of sin, reconciliation with God, and the gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. It encompasses a holistic well-being that results from being brought into a right relationship with God.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Who shall tell thee words,"**: This clause identifies the divine messenger (Peter, though not named here, is the one the angel directs Cornelius to send for) and the essential content of his message. The "words" are not human philosophy or mere advice, but the divinely revealed truth of the Gospel, which holds the power to transform lives. This highlights the necessity of proclamation for salvation.
* **"whereby thou"**: This specifies the primary recipient of the message – Cornelius himself. The salvation offered is personal, requiring individual reception and faith. The "whereby" indicates the means or instrument through which salvation is effected, emphasizing that the "words" are the conduit for God's saving grace.
* **"and all thy house"**: This crucial addition broadens the scope of God's saving intention beyond Cornelius to include his entire household. It points to the corporate dimension of salvation, where the head of the household's faith often opens the door for the entire family to hear and respond to the Gospel, reflecting God's desire for families to experience His grace collectively.
* **"shall be saved."**: This declares the ultimate outcome and purpose of the message: salvation. This salvation is comprehensive, encompassing deliverance from sin's power and penalty, reconciliation with God, and the promise of eternal life, all made possible through the "words" of the Gospel received by faith.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Divine Commission** is evident, as the angel's direct instruction to Cornelius establishes the divine origin and authority behind Peter's impending message, underscoring that this outreach to Gentiles is God's own initiative. **Metonymy** is present in the use of "words" to represent the entire Gospel message; the part (words) stands for the whole (the comprehensive message of Christ's life, death, and resurrection). This creates **Anticipation**, as the promise of these "words" builds expectation for Peter's arrival and the life-changing revelation he will bring. Finally, the phrase "all thy house" powerfully conveys **Inclusion**, highlighting God's expansive grace that extends beyond individual conversion to encompass entire family units, challenging the exclusive tendencies of the early Jewish Christian community.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 11:14 stands as a theological watershed, profoundly illustrating God's universal redemptive purpose and the breaking down of barriers between Jew and Gentile. It underscores that salvation is not limited by ethnicity, social status, or religious background, but is freely offered to all who hear and believe the Gospel. This verse emphasizes the indispensable role of the spoken Word of God as the means through which faith is ignited and salvation is realized, demonstrating that God uses human messengers to accomplish His divine plan. It also highlights the corporate dimension of salvation, where God's grace often extends to entire households, reflecting His desire for families to be brought into His kingdom.

* [Romans 10:14-17](/romans/10-14-17 "How Shall They Hear Without a Preacher?")
* [Ephesians 2:11-22](/ephesians/2-11-22 "Christ Our Peace")
* [Acts 16:31](/acts/16-31 "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 11:14 offers profound lessons for contemporary believers, reminding us of the enduring power and scope of the Gospel. Just as Peter was divinely commissioned to share the life-saving "words" with Cornelius, we too are called to be conduits of God's truth. This verse challenges any insular tendencies we might harbor, compelling us to embrace God's heart for "all people," regardless of their background, culture, or past. It instills hope for our own families and communities, encouraging us to faithfully pray for and share the Gospel with our loved ones, trusting in God's desire for household salvation. Moreover, it underscores the vital importance of obedience to divine leading, as both Cornelius's and Peter's willingness to follow God's specific instructions led to a monumental breakthrough in the history of redemption, demonstrating that our availability to God can unlock His transformative work in the world.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Acts 11:14 challenge our preconceived notions or biases about who God desires to save?**
* **What "words" (the core message of the Gospel) are we most compelled to share with others today, and why?**
* **In what practical ways can we actively pray for and minister to our own households, believing in God's desire for their collective salvation?**
* **Like Peter, where might God be calling us to step out of our comfort zones or traditional patterns to share His truth with those considered "outside" our usual circles?**

### FAQ
**What does "all thy house" mean in this context, and does it guarantee salvation for every individual in a household?**

Answer: The phrase "all thy house" (Greek: _oîkos_) refers to Cornelius's entire household, which in the ancient world included not only immediate family members but also servants, extended relatives, and dependents living under the same roof. While the passage clearly indicates God's desire and provision for the salvation of the entire household, it does not guarantee automatic salvation for every individual within it irrespective of their personal faith. Rather, it signifies that the head of the household's faith and the subsequent preaching of the Gospel to the entire unit opened the door for each member to hear and respond. In [Acts 10:44](/acts/10-44 "Acts 10:44 - The Holy Spirit Falls on Gentiles"), the Holy Spirit fell upon "all them which heard the word," implying that individual reception of the message was key. This pattern is also seen with [the Philippian jailer's household](/acts/16-31-34 "Acts 16:31-34 - The Philippian Jailer's Household"), where the Gospel was preached to "all that were in his house," and they subsequently believed and were baptized. It highlights God's redemptive focus on families and communities, encouraging believers to share the Gospel within their domestic spheres with hope and intentionality.

**Is salvation contingent on hearing specific "words," or can one be saved without ever hearing the Gospel explicitly?**

Answer: Acts 11:14 explicitly states that Peter "shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved." This emphasizes the critical role of the spoken Gospel message in God's plan of salvation. The "words" refer to the good news about Jesus Christ – His life, death, resurrection, and the call to repentance and faith. The New Testament consistently teaches that faith comes by hearing the word of Christ ([Romans 10:17](/romans/10-17 "Faith Comes by Hearing")). While God is sovereign and can use various means to draw people to Himself, the normative and divinely ordained way for individuals to come to saving faith is through hearing and responding to the explicit proclamation of the Gospel. Cornelius, despite being a devout God-fearer, still needed to hear the specific "words" about Jesus to be saved, demonstrating that general revelation or moral living, while commendable, is insufficient for salvation apart from the specific revelation of Christ.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 11:14, though spoken by an angel and recounted by Peter, finds its ultimate fulfillment and meaning in Jesus Christ Himself. The "words" that Peter was to tell Cornelius were not merely human pronouncements but the divine message centered on the person and work of Jesus. Christ is the Living Word ([John 1:1](/john/1-1 "The Word Was God")), the very embodiment of the saving message. Peter's sermon to Cornelius's household, as recorded in [Acts 10:36-43](/acts/10-36-43 "Peter's Sermon at Cornelius's House"), was entirely Christ-centric, proclaiming Jesus as Lord of all, the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead, and through whom everyone who believes receives forgiveness of sins. Thus, the salvation promised to Cornelius and his household was not through magical incantations or mere information, but through faith in the crucified and resurrected Christ. This pivotal moment, the inclusion of Gentiles through the proclamation of Christ, foreshadows the universal scope of Christ's redemptive work, breaking down the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile ([Ephesians 2:14-16](/ephesians/2-14-16 "Christ Our Peace")), and establishing a new humanity united in Him, fulfilling God's ancient promises to bless all nations through Abraham's seed, who is Christ ([Galatians 3:16](/galatians/3-16 "The Promise to Abraham's Seed")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Acts 10:22

And 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 16:15

And 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 16:31

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

Acts 16:34

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

Acts 2:39

For 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.

Genesis 17:7

¶ And 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.

1 John 5:9

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.