Acts 16:31

Acts 16:31

By

Gary Primo

December 3, 2014

Acts 16:31 - And they said, Believe on the Master Yahushua HaMashiyack, and you shall be saved, and your house.

The church that I was formerly with (the Worldwide Church of God) used to use this verse to assure congregants that their families would be saved by our righteousness, even if they did not, themselves, believe. That would be a very comforting thought for us all – if it were true. Or, is it simply one more verse that has been taken out of context and twisted to suite a more desirable outcome. I am not saying at this point whether it a truth or not. No one wants it to be true more than I, so I might be slightly leaning towards finding verification of this belief than opposition to it. However, I also believe that facts should be backed up by evidence – and that by two or three witnesses shall truth be confirmed.

So let’s get into this study and see what comes of it.

Acts 16:31 in Context

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.

The keeper of the prison knew that something truly miraculous had taken place. First there was an earthquake, followed by the opening of the prison doors. Although Peter and Silas had the opportunity to escape, they did not – so that they could have the chance to glorify Yahuwah before the keeper and the rest inside the prison who had witnessed the event.

28 - But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do yourself no harm: for we are all here.

The keeper of the prison thought his goose was cooked for sure when he saw the open gates and presumed that his prisoners had escaped. This opportunity afforded Yahuwah a number of new converts. All who witnessed the event were converted of the heart out of the fear of Yahuwah. They had never seen anything like this among the pagan gods and idols that they had formerly worshiped. They fully understood that this was an act of the One True Elohim.

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

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

The keeper recognized then that both Paul and Silas were true representatives of that One True Elohim. Recognizing that fact, he fell before them fearful and trembling, wanting to repent and follow after them. He inquires of them what he must do.

31 - And they said, Believe on the Master Yahushua HaMashiyack, and you shall be saved, and your house.

Belief in Yahushua is only the beginning. Following belief we must “live in Yahushua”. This is how we are saved individually. But does that mean that every member of our house will be automatically saved by our righteousness if they, themselves, are not seeking after the same righteousness? Were these verses even talking about the keeper’s intimate family or those of the house of the prison? The following comments by J., F. and B. seem to indicate the latter.

32 - And they spoke unto him the word of Yahuwah, and to all that were in his house.

All that were in the house heard the word of Yahuwah preached to them and were convicted of the truth of the word.

33 - And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

They all had their sins washed away through baptism. They believed and were forgiven their sins. They had to take these crucial steps to be saved. They were not automatically saved (still clinging to their pagan beliefs) because they were of the keeper’s house.

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

The entire house believed in Elohim. It does not matter if this is speaking of other guards and prisoners or the keeper’s own house and family. Belief is essential to the condition of salvation. If all do not believe, all will not be saved. It seems pretty simple.

The following is the Jamieson Faccet and Brown comment on these verses:

J., F. & B.

27. the keeper . . . awaking . . . drew . . . his sword, and would have killed himself, &c.--knowing that his life was forfeited in that case ( Acts 12:19 ; and compare Acts 27:42 ).

28. But Paul cried with a loud voice--the better to arrest the deed.

Do thyself no harm, for we are all here--What divine calmness and self-possession! No elation at their miraculous liberation, or haste to take advantage of it; but one thought filled the apostle's mind at that moment--anxiety to save a fellow creature from sending himself into eternity, ignorant of the only way of life; and his presence of mind appears in the assurance which he so promptly gives to the desperate man, that his prisoners had none of them fled as he feared. But how, it has been asked by skeptical critics, could Paul in his inner prison know what the jailer was about to do? In many conceivable ways, without supposing any supernatural communication. Thus, if the jailer slept at the door of "the inner prison," which suddenly flew open when the earthquake shook the foundations of the building; if, too, as may easily be conceived, he uttered some cry of despair on seeing the doors open; and, if the clash of the steel, as the affrighted man drew it hastily from the scabbard, was audible but a few yards off, in the dead midnight stillness, increased by the awe inspired in the prisoners by the miracle--what difficulty is there in supposing that Paul, perceiving in a moment how matters stood, after crying out, stepped hastily to him, uttering the noble entreaty here recorded? Not less flat is the question, why the other liberated prisoners did not make their escape:--as if there were the smallest difficulty in understanding how, under the resistless conviction that there must be something supernatural in their instantaneous liberation without human hand, such wonder and awe should possess them as to take away for the time not only all desire of escape, but even all thought on the subject.

29, 30. Then he called for a light, and sprang in . . . and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out and said--How graphic this rapid succession of minute details, evidently from the parties themselves, the prisoners and the jailer, who would talk over every feature of the scene once and again, in which the hand of the Lord had been so marvellously seen.

30. Sirs, what must I do to be saved?--If this question should seem in advance of any light which the jailer could be supposed to possess, let it be considered (1) that the "trembling" which came over him could not have arisen from any fear for the safety of his prisoners, for they were all there; and if it had, he would rather have proceeded to secure them again than leave them, to fall down before Paul and Silas. For the same reason it is plain that his trembling had nothing to do with any account he would have to render to the magistrates. Only one explanation of it can be given--that he had become all at once alarmed about his spiritual state, and that though, a moment before, .he was ready to plunge into eternity with the guilt of self-murder on his head, without a thought of the sin he was committing and its awful consequences, his unfitness to appear before God, and his need of salvation, now flashed full upon his soul and drew from the depths of his spirit the cry here recorded. If still it be asked how it could take such definite shape, let it be considered (2) that the jailer could hardly be ignorant of the nature of the charges on which these men had been imprisoned, seeing they had been publicly whipped by order of the magistrates, which would fill the whole town with the facts of the case, including that strange cry of the demoniac from day to-day--"These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation"--words proclaiming not only the divine commission of the preachers, but the news of salvation they were sent to tell, the miraculous expulsion of the demon and the rage of her masters. All this, indeed, would go for nothing with such a man, until roused by the mighty earthquake which made the building to rock; then despair seizing him at the sight of the open doors, the sword of self-destruction was suddenly arrested by words from one of those prisoners such as he would never imagine could be spoken in their circumstances--words evidencing something divine about them. Then would flash across him the light of a new discovery; "That was a true cry which the Pythoness uttered, 'These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation! That I now must know, and from them, as divinely sent to me, must I learn that way of salvation!'" Substantially, this is the cry of every awakened sinner, though the degree of light and the depths of anxiety it expresses will be different in each case.

31-34. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved--The brevity, simplicity, and directness of this reply are, in the circumstances, singularly beautiful. Enough at that moment to have his faith directed simply to the Saviour, with the assurance that this would bring to his soul the needed and sought salvation--the how being a matter for after teaching.

thou shalt be saved, and thy

32. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord--unfolding now, doubtless, more fully what "the Lord Jesus Christ" was to whom they had pointed his faith, and what the "salvation" was which this would bring him.

and to all that were in his house--who from their own dwelling (under the same roof no doubt with the prison) had crowded round the apostles, aroused first by the earthquake. (From their addressing the Gospel message "to all that were in the house" it is not necessary to infer that it contained no children, but merely that as it contained adults besides the jailer himself, so to all of these, as alone of course fit to be addressed, they preached the word).

33. And he took them--the word implies change of place.

the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes--in the well or fountain which was within or near the precincts of the prison [HOWSON]. The mention of "the same hour of the night" seems to imply that they had to go forth into the open air, which, unseasonable as the hour was, they did. These bleeding wounds had never been thought of by the indifferent jailer. But now, when his whole heart was opened to his spiritual benefactors, he cannot rest until he has done all in his power for their bodily relief.

and was baptized, he and all his, straightway--probably at the same fountain, since it took place "straightway"; the one washing on his part being immediately succeeded by the other on theirs.

34. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them and rejoiced, believing--that is, as the expression implies, "rejoiced because he had believed."

in God--as a converted heathen, for the faith of a Jew would not be so expressed [ALFORD].

with all his house--the wondrous change on himself and the whole house filling his soul with joy. "This is the second house which, in the Roman city of Philippi, has been consecrated by faith in Jesus, and of which the inmates, by hospitable entertainment of the Gospel witnesses, have been sanctified to a new beginning of domestic life, pleasing and acceptable to God. The first result came to pass in consequence simply of the preaching of the Gospel; the second was the fruit of a testimony sealed and ennobled by suffering" [BAUMGARTEN].

All the cross references for this verse can be found at the following web site:

http://www.openbible.info/labs/cross-references/search?q=Acts+16%3A31

There are quite a few, but most say basically the same thing. Therefore, I will only examine a sample. Remember that we need two or three witnesses to confirm whether something is true or not.

Gen. 17:7 - And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be Elohim to you and to your offspring after you.

Abraham entered this covenant with Elohim. The covenant was to be established with Abraham and his offspring after him. All of his offspring were expected to enter into and honour the same covenant. They verified the covenant through circumcision and an oath. If they refused circumcision and did not believe Yahuwah, they were not part of the covenant and would be cast out of the camp.

Gen. 18:19 - For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of Yahuwah by doing righteousness and justice, so that Yahuwah may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”

Abraham was the master of his house. He had many servants who counted on him for their life support. When he commanded them to do something, they generally obeyed.

In this matter, obedience would have to come from the heart of the individual, not by command. If they did not truly believe in their hearts, then their conversion was bogus. Those who truly believed Abraham and had their hearts converted would have certainly been worthy of salvation, right along with Abraham. If they were not so converted and simply professed belief out of fear of reprisal, Yahuwah would recognize the fraud and not grant salvation to that individual.

Jer. 32:39 - I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them.

The fear of Elohim is the beginning of salvation. Following that, we are to take on the heart and mind of Yahuwah so that we are one with him; and follow the one true way. If we remain one in heart and mind with the Elohim of this world (HaSatan) following any supposed conversion, then we will soon find ourselves abandoning the way of Yahuwah and rejoining the world in following after the lie. Such will never see salvation, nor will their loved ones.

Jn. 1:12 - But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of Elohim,

This is a very clear statement of the conditions needed to “become children of Elohim. First you have to receive Him in your heart – love Him. Then you have to believe on His name and the meaning of His name – “Yahuwah is my salvation”. Only those who satisfy these two conditions possess the “right” to become children of Elohim.

Jn. 11:25 - Yahushua said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,

26 - And everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

I am sure that in the beginning, many thought that this meant they would never physically die. Of course they did; so this must be talking of the spirit, which indeed cannot die because it is of Yahuwah. Of course there remains a resurrection and a judgment before any will enter into the New Creation. What does one think we will be judged on? That’s right; we will be judged on whether we “lived and believed in Yahushua”. In other words, we must not only talk the talk but must walk the walk also. And, none of us know where that walk will take us or what trials we will have to endure to complete it.

Acts 2:38 - And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Yahushua HaMashiyack for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Set-Apart Spirit.

39 - For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom Yahuwah our Elohim calls to himself.”

The set apart spirit of Yahuwah is essential to learning the way and walking the walk. We do not receive that spirit until we;

A) Repent of our sins, and

B) Are baptized in the name of Yahushua.

I do not know about the rest of you but following my gaining understanding of the true names of Yahuwah and Yahushua, I felt the need to be re-baptized in the true name and was. Even though I had experienced numerous answered prayers when under the name “Jesus”, I felt that since I now knew the true name, I should be re-baptized in it. That was a personal choice that I own and believe I have ample evidence that it should be so. I do not judge any who do not feel that need, but, as it says in Acts;

Acts 4: 12 - Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

As far as salvation goes, are we to believe that any (including our indifferent family members) will receive salvation by any other means? I am finding it increasingly difficult to believe.

Acts 11:13 - And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter;

14 - He will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’

Again; is this talking of unbelieving members of his household, or of only those who were converted?

18 - When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified Elohim, saying, Then has Elohim also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

I would say that these verses infer that these Gentile men were converted to the Way of Yahuwah and in return Yahuwah granted them repentance unto life. They also seem to infer that this is the only way to attain repentance unto life.

Acts 16: 14 - And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshiped Elohim, heard us: whose heart Yahuwah opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

15 - And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to Yahuwah, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.

The wording of these verses seem to indicate that this woman was already worshiping Yahuwah before she heard the apostles speak and that afterward, Yahuwah opened her heart to accept Yahushua. The apostles judged her by her faith. By faith she submitted to baptism, as did her entire household. In such a case her household would indeed be in possession of the hope of salvation.

Acts 18:8 - Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in Yahuwah, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized.

Crispus’ household was not automatically granted salvation because of his faith. They all believed and were baptized individually and were saved because of that fact.

Romans 10: 8 - But what says it? The word is near you, even in your mouth, and in your heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

9 - That if you confess with your mouth that Yahushua is Master and believe in your heart that Elohim raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 - For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Faith requires both, a heart of belief and a mouth of confession. We are justified by belief (talking the talk) but are saved by confession of the lips (walking the walk). Many believe but do not want to walk the walk. The two have to go hand in hand.

Romans 11:16 - If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

This verse is the only one seeming to verify the theory we are examining in this study. However, we must examine the context first.

Rom. 11:13 - For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

14 - If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

15 - For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

16 - For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

17 - And if some of the branches be broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

18 - Boast not against the branches. But if you boast, you bear not the root, but the root you.

19 - You wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.

20 - Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear:

21 - For if Elohim spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not you.

The firstfruit and root of verse 16 is speaking of Yahushua. The Jews were the firstfruit of the tree. When they were broken off because of unbelief, we were grafted on because of our belief. Belief is the essential requirement. Without it we simply will not be grafted on.

We are not to boast of this privilege but fear Yahuwah because of it. We are to be humble and appreciative. We are to become living examples of our faith. If we do not bear fruit, we will likewise be broken off and replaced.

We can easily see that these verses are speaking of Israel and not an individual family.

1 John 5:3 - Whoever believes in the Son of Elohim has the testimony in himself.

4 - Whoever does not believe Elohim has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that Elohim has borne concerning his Son.

5 - And this is the testimony that Elohim gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

6 - Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of Elohim does not have life.

7 - I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of Elohim that you may know that you have eternal life.

In not believing Elohim, we as much as accuse Him of being a liar. This is what HaSatan wants us to believe. This is what HaSatan taught Adam prior to his fall – that Yahuwah was lying to him.

The equation is simple:

Having the Son = eternal life

Not having the Son = no eternal life

Everyone must believe and obey both Yahuwah and Yahushua to be saved. There are no exceptions.

Acts 13:38 - Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,

39 - And by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.

The only way to salvation is through Yahushua. The one thing that the Law of Moses could not free anyone of was the sentence of death. There was no hope of salvation until Yahushua became our Saviour through His sacrifice. Those who died before Yahushua’s sacrifice, would have had to have written the laws on their minds and hearts, and not merely obeyed out of fear of reprisal, to be saved. Yahuwah knows who is who.

Conclusion

Perhaps a good example of this is the Apostle, James. James was the brother of Yahushua, yet he did not believe until after his brother’s death and resurrection. Following that event, James rose to prominence amongst the group of believers and became known throughout the land as James the Pious. He gained this title because of his righteousness. And, of course, his righteousness stemmed from his belief.

No matter what our families think of us, we must continue to set a good example. One day we will succumb to physical death. Even if our family members did not believe while we were alive, they might change their minds after we die. The best we can do is hold out hope and pray for them to the very end.

Another factor to consider is that HaSatan will use any means available to thwart us from our goal. This includes turning family members against us. Yahushua knew that in following after Him we would be setting ourselves against the world and the ruler of this world. He knew that even our own families would turn against us.

Matt. 10:34 - Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

Yahushua knew that the world would hate us, as it hated (and still hates) Him. He knew that HaSatan would come after us with a sword. That sword was intended as an instrument of testing us. The ultimate test of all is the sacrifice of our physical lives, so as to gain eternal life.

35 - For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

In the not too distant future, laws are going to be passed in all “Christian” nations that attempt to stifle our beliefs and customs. The mindset of our enemies will be either to convert us to the coming one world religion or kill us. Our children are already being programmed within our current education system to resist our beliefs and conform to the state. Many will prefer peace with the state over sharing in the coming persecution with us. They will even hate us for choosing obedience to Yahuwah over obedience to the state.

36 - And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.

The foes within our own households will be the most difficult to deal with because in spite of their hatred toward us, we will still love them very much and will be deeply heartbroken by their animosity towards us. We can expect the same treatment as Believers in Roman times – to have all our possessions confiscated, friends, family and employers alienated from us and to be imprisoned, tortured and killed in the name of Yahuwah. We will be forced to live in the wilderness as fugitives of the state. This is not a very attractive scenario for any unbelieving loved ones. They will think we have lost our minds. They will be under a legal obligation to report us to the authorities and be consenting to our imprisonment, torture and death. If they decline, they will suffer the same end as us.

37 - He that loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

We will have to choose between the love for our family and our love for Yahuwah. If we do not remain steadfast in our devotion and love for Yahuwah, and begin to compromise with them, we will soon lose out on our hope for salvation. Any who do so, will not be helping their loved ones one bit.

38 - And he that takes not his cross, and follows after me, is not worthy of me.

39 - He that finds his life shall lose it: and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it.

We must look to Yahushua’s example at all times. He did not falter. He never denied Yahuwah at any time. He withstood the temptations of HaSatan. When His family thought he had lost his mind, he cared not, but continued to stay the course His Father had set for him. It was not until after they witnessed His death and resurrection that His family finally believed and were likely somewhat ashamed that they had not stood with Him while he was alive (physically).

If we strive to cling to this physical life by compromising or giving ourselves over to our loved ones and the state, we will lose out on the promise of eternal life in Yahuwah’s Kingdom. That would do neither us nor our families any good.

Those Believers who are alive when Yahushua returns, will experience one of the greatest events to occur since the creation of man – the changing of physical to spiritual by fiat – without having to taste physical death. The following verses describe this event.

Matt. 24:38 - For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark,

39 - And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

40 - Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

41 - Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

42 - Watch therefore: for you know not what hour your Master comes.

43 - But know this, that if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

These are the verses that have become the source of the “Rapture Theory”. I watched a new Nicolas Cage movie, “Left Behind”, which attempted to portray this event. Of course Hollywood followed the script of the rapture theorists, not the truth of Scriptures. They placed this event at the beginning of the Tribulation instead of at the end. However, it did portray the children, spouses and whoever, thinking that Believers were crazy for believing in a Creator. That is, until they witnessed this greatly prophesied event taking place worldwide, before their eyes. They quickly changed their tune. Hopefully that will be the way with our loved ones too. Even if they repent and believe only moments before the end comes, and that comes from the heart, I believe they will be saved.

Love is the greatest weapon we have in our fight against HaSatan. If we continue to demonstrate the power of Yahuwah’s love before the world and our loved ones right up to our deaths (or “rapture”), it will be the greatest example we can set for our loved ones; and, hopefully, it will be the key for changing their hearts towards Yahuwah and gaining salvation.

Yahuwah Bless

G.P.