The Phrase “You and Your Household” In The Bible

During the earthquake that shook the foundation of the jail in Philippi, the jail doors were opened and the chains that bound the prisoners came loose. When the jailer woke up and saw the open doors, he knew he would be held responsible for missing prisoners, so he took hold of his sword and was about to end his life! Paul cried out to the jailer not to take his life and assured him that no prisoner had escaped. Overcome with relief and with a realization that Paul and Silas had something he wanted but did not have, the jailer asked the two missionaries what he needed to do to be saved (see Acts 16:26-30). They responded, “Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved—you and your entire household” (v. 31). The jailer brought Paul and Silas to his home and took care of their wounds. He fed them as well. Paul and Silas shared the gospel with the man and his family, and he and all the members of his household believed in Jesus and were baptized (see vv. 32-34). The jailer “rejoiced because he had believed God with his entire household” (v. 34).

The Phrase “You and Your Household” In The Bible

The question naturally arises, “How could Paul and Silas tell the man that if he believed, he and his entire household would be saved?” While Scripture is quite clear that an individual who trusts Christ for salvation is saved, it’s also clear that a person who does not believe in Jesus lives under condemnation for his sins (see John 3:16-18). In other words, no one can secure salvation for anyone else; each person must believe for himself or herself. We must affirm that this also was the case with regard to the jailer and his family in Acts 16; Paul and Silas were not saying that the faith of the jailer alone would save his entire family. Given this, we also affirm the following regarding the phrase “you and your household.”

• Paul and Silas may have spoken prophetically, foretelling the outcome if the jailer exercised saving faith in his own life. If the jailer believed in Jesus, then the members of his household also would believe themselves and thereby would receive salvation. This would happen as a result of God’s working in their own lives and as a result of their choosing to believe.
• Paul and Silas may have meant, “Trust Jesus for salvation and you will be saved; this applies to you as well as to all the members of your household. If they believe, they, too, will be saved.”
• The words of the two missionaries in Acts 16:31 highlight, not a hard and fast promise that is true without exception, but a general principle that often applies. (We find another such principle in Proverbs 22:6.) When the head of a household—or a member of a household, for that matter—trusts Christ for salvation, it isn’t unusual to see see family members following the example that has been set for them (see Acts 16:13-15). Make sure you are setting the right example for the members of your family.

B. Nathaniel Sullivan
Christian educator, Bible teacher, and Editor

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations in SundaySchoolZone.com materials are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.