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.

And {G5037} when he had brought {G321} them {G846} into {G1519} his house {G3624}, he set {G3908} meat {G5132} before them {G3908}, and {G2532} rejoiced {G21}, believing {G4100} in God {G2316} with all {G3832} his {G846} house {G3832}.

After that, he brought them up to his house and set food in front of them; and he and his entire household celebrated their having come to trust in God.

Then he brought them into his home and set a meal before them. So he and all his household rejoiced that they had come to believe in God.

And he brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his house, having believed in God.

Acts 16:34 beautifully illustrates the immediate and profound transformation that occurs when individuals and their families embrace the Gospel. It captures the joy and hospitality of the newly converted Philippian jailer and his household.

Context

This verse concludes the dramatic narrative of Paul and Silas's time in Philippi. After being unjustly beaten and imprisoned, a miraculous earthquake opened their prison doors. The terrified jailer, believing the prisoners had escaped, was about to commit suicide when Paul intervened. In response to the jailer's urgent question, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Paul and Silas declared, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Following this, the apostles preached to his entire household, and they were all baptized (Acts 16:33). Verse 34 describes the practical and emotional outflow of this new faith.

Key Themes

  • Household Salvation: The phrase "believing in God with all his house" highlights a significant pattern in the book of Acts where entire families or households come to faith together. This emphasizes the communal aspect of salvation and the impact one's faith can have on those closest to them.
  • Immediate Joy in New Faith: The jailer "rejoiced," reflecting the profound spiritual delight and peace that accompanies genuine conversion. This joy is a natural and often immediate fruit of receiving God's grace and forgiveness, a common theme for new believers throughout the New Testament.
  • Christian Hospitality and Transformation: "He set meat before them" showcases an act of generous hospitality. The jailer, who hours earlier was their captor, now cares for Paul and Silas by washing their wounds and providing sustenance. This demonstrates a complete transformation of character and priorities, driven by his newfound faith.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV term "meat" (Greek: trophe) in this verse refers generally to food or a meal, not specifically to animal flesh. The word for "rejoiced," agalliaō (ἀγαλλιάω), conveys a sense of exuberant, overflowing joy and exultation. It is often used in the New Testament to describe profound spiritual rejoicing, such as that experienced by Mary in Luke 1:47 or by believers in 1 Peter 1:8.

Practical Application

Acts 16:34 serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of the Gospel. It encourages believers to share their faith within their own families, holding onto the promise that the Lord desires for "all his house" to be saved (Acts 2:39). The jailer's immediate and tangible acts of hospitality and care also illustrate that genuine faith is not merely intellectual assent but leads to concrete changes in behavior, marked by love, service, and joy.

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.

  • Romans 15:13

    ¶ Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

  • Acts 2:46

    And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

  • Philemon 1:7

    For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

  • Romans 5:11

    And not only [so], but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

  • Acts 16:27

    And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

  • Acts 16:29

    Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

  • Acts 11:14

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

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