Acts 16:30

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

And {G2532} brought {G4254} them {G846} out {G1854}, and said {G5346}, Sirs {G2962}, what {G5101} must {G1163} I {G3165} do {G4160} to {G2443} be saved {G4982}?

Then, leading them outside, he said, “Men, what must I do to be saved?”

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

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

Acts 16:30 (KJV) captures a pivotal and urgent question from the Philippian jailer, marking a dramatic turning point in his life and a profound moment in the early Christian mission.

Context

This verse follows a miraculous sequence of events in Philippi. Paul and Silas had been unjustly beaten with rods and thrown into the inner prison, their feet fastened in the stocks. Despite their suffering, at midnight, they were praying and singing hymns to God. Suddenly, a violent earthquake shook the prison, opening all the doors and loosening everyone's chains. The jailer, awakened by the commotion and fearing all the prisoners had escaped (which would have meant his own execution), was about to take his life. Paul, however, cried out, assuring him that no one had fled. Overwhelmed by these supernatural events and the integrity of his prisoners, the jailer, trembling with fear, brought Paul and Silas out and posed this life-altering question.

Key Themes

  • The Urgency of Salvation: The jailer's question, "What must I do to be saved?", reveals a sudden and profound awareness of his spiritual need. It's a cry for deliverance, not just from earthly consequences but from spiritual peril, prompted by a clear demonstration of divine power.
  • Divine Intervention and Providence: The earthquake was not a random occurrence but a direct act of God, orchestrating events to open a door for the gospel message and bring a lost soul to repentance and faith.
  • Universal Need for Redemption: This question, posed by a Roman official in a pagan city, highlights that the deepest human need—the need for salvation—transcends cultural, social, and religious boundaries.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated as "saved" is sōzō (σῴζω). While it can mean physical preservation (e.g., being saved from death), in this context, especially given the answer in the subsequent verse, it clearly refers to spiritual salvation—deliverance from sin, its guilt, and its eternal consequences. The jailer's inquiry moves beyond mere physical safety to a deep concern for his eternal destiny, indicating a divinely-prompted conviction of sin and a desire for reconciliation with God.

Related Scriptures

The jailer's question is one of the most direct and fundamental inquiries about personal faith found in the Bible. Paul and Silas's immediate response, found in the very next verse, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house," provides the simple yet profound core of the Christian gospel. This powerful exchange illustrates that God can use extraordinary circumstances to bring individuals to a point of spiritual conviction, leading them to seek and receive the gift of eternal life through faith. It underscores that salvation is accessible to all who genuinely seek it and place their trust in Christ, a truth echoed in Romans 10:9 regarding confession and belief, and in John 3:16 regarding God's love for the world.

Reflection

Acts 16:30 serves as a timeless reminder of humanity's innate need for spiritual peace and the direct, accessible path to finding it. The Philippian jailer's dramatic conversion story encourages us that God's grace can reach anyone, anywhere, transforming lives in an instant. It prompts us to consider our own spiritual state and to be ready to share the clear message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ with those who, like the jailer, may be desperately searching for answers.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Acts 2:37

    ¶ Now when they heard [this], they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men [and] brethren, what shall we do?

  • John 6:27

    Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

  • John 6:29

    Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

  • Acts 22:10

    And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.

  • Isaiah 58:9

    Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I [am]. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;

  • Acts 14:15

    And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

  • Luke 3:10

    And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?

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