The “Rest of the Story” of the Philippiani jailer. Acts 16

[Beckworth]

When the Philippian jailer asked the question in Acts 16:30, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Paul told him to “believe” on the Lord Jesus Christ and he would be saved along with his household.

But the jailer was not “saved” in verse 30. He was a Roman Gentile living in a city that was over 1300 miles from Jerusalem. He likely had never heard of Jesus and had no idea what to believe. This is why in verse 32, Paul and Silas “SPOKE THe WORD OF THE LORD “ to him. The jailer did not know what he needed to “believe.” Here is a perfect example of Romans 10:14: “How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” The jailer had not heard, so could not believe, until the preachers there taught him what to do. “So then FAITH COMES BY HEARING, and HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD.” Verse 17.

We are not specifically told what Paul and Silas told him in that sermon, but if we examine his “actions”, we can know some of what they said, because the jailer knew nothing on his own until they told him what to do.

We can know that the Jailer “believed” what he heard about the Christ and how to be saved, because we see him “washing their stripes” where they had been beaten. Perhaps the jailer. himself, was the one who put them there. This is evidence of “repentance.” So, we can know that Paul taught the jailer that he needed to “repent.”

And then IMMEDIATELY, they were baptized— in the wee hours of the morning! Remember that the earthquake did not happen until midnight or after. By this time, it is the middle of the night. Wonder how long Paul and Silas were in teaching him the “word of the Lord?” Have you asked yourself “why” do that NOW? In the middle of the night? If baptism is “optional” as men teach, if it’s not really necessary, then why not wait until a more convenient time—at least until tomorrow when it is light?

Also, “baptism” had to be something that he learned from Paul and Silas when they “spoke the word of the Lord” to him. It would not have been something that the jailer came up with by himself. This reminds me of a similar story in Acts 8. The preacher Phillip “preached Jesus” to the eunuch and although we are not told what Phillip told him, when they came to “water”, the eunuch immediately wanted to be baptized. These two stories ( along with many other scriptures) make me know that baptism was a very important part of the gospel and definitely a part of what they needed to do to be saved. Paul, Silas, and the evangelist Phillip all included it in their message to non-believers. The fact that the eunuch wanted to be baptized as soon as he saw water, and the fact that the jailer wanted to be baptized “Immediately”, in the middle of the night, does not sound like Paul, Silas, and Phillip presented baptism as an “option”, or it’s not really necessary, or you can if you want to, but it doesn’t save you. That is NOT the reaction we see from people in the Bible.

Another reaction we see from people in the Bible is that they “rejoiced” AFTER they were baptized. And many times, enjoyed a meal after being saved. In Acts 8, as soon as Phillip and the eunuch came up out of the waters of baptism, the Spirit took Phillip away, and the eunuch went on his way REJOICING. Saul of Tarsus in Acts 9, received “food” after he was baptized and was strengthened. In Acts 16:34, immediately after being baptized in verse 33, they ate a meal together and “REJOICED, having BELIEVED in God with all his household.

Does this story sound like all that the jailer did to be saved was “believe?” The last sentence says it all—after believing, repenting, and being baptized, they were described by the Holy Spirit as “having believed in God. There is much more to “belief” than just mental assent. The jailer was saved in verses 32 and 33, not in verse 30, nor in verse 31.

And that is the “rest of the story”. (That men will not tell you.)

 

[Watchman22]

When the Philippian jailer asked the question in Acts 16:30, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Paul told him to “believe” on the Lord Jesus Christ and he would be saved along with his household.

But the jailer was not “saved” in verse 30. He was a Roman Gentile living in a city that was over 1300 miles from Jerusalem. He likely had never heard of Jesus and had no idea what to believe. This is why in verse 32, Paul and Silas “SPOKE THe WORD OF THE LORD “ to him. The jailer did not know what he needed to “believe.” Here is a perfect example of Romans 10:14: “How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” The jailer had not heard, so could not believe, until the preachers there taught him what to do. “So then FAITH COMES BY HEARING, and HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD.” Verse 17.

We are not specifically told what Paul and Silas told him in that sermon, but if we examine his “actions”, we can know some of what they said, because the jailer knew nothing on his own until they told him what to do.

We can know that the Jailer “believed” what he heard about the Christ and how to be saved, because we see him “washing their stripes” where they had been beaten. Perhaps the jailer. himself, was the one who put them there. This is evidence of “repentance.” So, we can know that Paul taught the jailer that he needed to “repent.”

And then IMMEDIATELY, they were baptized— in the wee hours of the morning! Remember that the earthquake did not happen until midnight or after. By this time, it is the middle of the night. Wonder how long Paul and Silas were in teaching him the “word of the Lord?” Have you asked yourself “why” do that NOW? In the middle of the night? If baptism is “optional” as men teach, if it’s not really necessary, then why not wait until a more convenient time—at least until tomorrow when it is light?

Also, “baptism” had to be something that he learned from Paul and Silas when they “spoke the word of the Lord” to him. It would not have been something that the jailer came up with by himself. This reminds me of a similar story in Acts 8. The preacher Phillip “preached Jesus” to the eunuch and although we are not told what Phillip told him, when they came to “water”, the eunuch immediately wanted to be baptized. These two stories ( along with many other scriptures) make me know that baptism was a very important part of the gospel and definitely a part of what they needed to do to be saved. Paul, Silas, and the evangelist Phillip all included it in their message to non-believers. The fact that the eunuch wanted to be baptized as soon as he saw water, and the fact that the jailer wanted to be baptized “Immediately”, in the middle of the night, does not sound like Paul, Silas, and Phillip presented baptism as an “option”, or it’s not really necessary, or you can if you want to, but it doesn’t save you. That is NOT the reaction we see from people in the Bible.

Another reaction we see from people in the Bible is that they “rejoiced” AFTER they were baptized. And many times, enjoyed a meal after being saved. In Acts 8, as soon as Phillip and the eunuch came up out of the waters of baptism, the Spirit took Phillip away, and the eunuch went on his way REJOICING. Saul of Tarsus in Acts 9, received “food” after he was baptized and was strengthened. In Acts 16:34, immediately after being baptized in verse 33, they ate a meal together and “REJOICED, having BELIEVED in God with all his household.

Does this story sound like all that the jailer did to be saved was “believe?” The last sentence says it all—after believing, repenting, and being baptized, they were described by the Holy Spirit as “having believed in God. There is much more to “belief” than just mental assent. The jailer was saved in verses 32 and 33, not in verse 30, nor in verse 31.

And that is the “rest of the story”. (That men will not tell you.)

And then there is the "rest of the rest of the story."

The word " believe" is a mistranslation!
The correct translation of that Greek word Paul used, pisteuo, is a personal surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ, and live a life inspired by such surrender.

So the jailer would have responded with a surrendered life to Jesus Christ, and went on to live a life inspired by that surrender. Saving him and his household.

 

[Beckworth]

And then there is the "rest of the rest of the story."

The word " believe" is a mistranslation!
The correct translation of that Greek word Paul used, pisteuo, is a personal surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ, and live a life inspired by such surrender.

So the jailer would have responded with a surrendered life to Jesus Christ, and went on to live a life inspired by that surrender. Saving him and his household.

I believe The Holy Spirit and God the Father, and Jesus Christ have the power to “protect” and “keep” their book from corruption that would lead people astray. I also believe that God did not make the “book”, the Bible so obscure that everyone, even to a child could not properly understand it without a knowledge of the Greek and Hebrew languages. if what you say is true, then no one in the world can read it and get the correct understanding without a knowledge of the Greek language. It woujd be God’s fault that thousands of people are lost because they read the book He wrote and it was translated wrong so anyone who reads it without understanding Greek would be lost. That is not true. Such efforts by Satan are constantly going on, not only about Mark 16:16, but also about about Acrs 2:38, , 1 Peter 3:21, and almost the entire book of James but especially chapter 2, Doesn’t it seem just a little strange to you that the translators only mis translated the scriptures that have to do with baptism and “faith only?” Satan has always worked to destroy what God has said; and always takes the OPPOSITE position from the one That God takes.

Example: #1: GOD told Adam and Eve, if you eat this fruit “YOU WILL DIE.””
SATAN told Eve, if you eat this fruit, “YOU WILL NOT DIE.” You see! Just the OPPOSITE of what God says.
#2 - God says in 1 Peter 3:21, “BAPTISM DOES NOW SAVE US.” What does Satan say?
SATAN says “BAPTISM DOES NOT SAVE US.” It’s just a repeat of Genesis 3, just with a different subject. Again, just the OPPOSITE of what God says in the Bible.
#3 - GOD SAYS, “YOU ARE NOT SAVED BY FAITH ONLY.” James 2:24.
SATAN says “YOU ARE SAVED BY FAITH ONLY.” Who do you think is behind that “faith only “ salvation? Absolutely not God. He has already spoken on “faith only” and HE SAYS IT WONT SAVE YOU. Satan is the one who teaches just the opposite of what God says. Always has; ever since Genesis 3.

Now, Jesus the Son of God, spoke in Mark 16:16 and He said “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved.” Jesus puts salvation AFTER BAPTISM. Where would you expect Satan to put salvation? Before or after Baptism? Well, BEFORE Baptism of course! He is batting 100! I’m not at all surprised. In fact, I would be surprised if Satan did NOT teach it that way; because he always contradicts and says the opposite of what God says, especially when it comes to salvation; because Satan does not want us to obey God and be saved. It is his job to see that people are lost—not saved.

What I AM surprised at are the number of people who read exactly what God has said in the Bible and still choose to believe what Satan says OVER what God says. Just like Eve in the garden.

 

[Watchman22]

I believe The Holy Spirit and God the Father, and Jesus Christ have the power to “protect” and “keep” their book from corruption that would lead people astray. I also believe that God did not make the “book”, the Bible so obscure that everyone, even to a child could not properly understand it without a knowledge of the Greek and Hebrew languages. if what you say is true, then no one in the world can read it and get the correct understanding without a knowledge of the Greek language. It woujd be God’s fault that thousands of people are lost because they read the book He wrote and it was translated wrong so anyone who reads it without understanding Greek would be lost. That is not true. Such efforts by Satan are constantly going on, not only about Mark 16:16, but also about about Acrs 2:38, , 1 Peter 3:21, and almost the entire book of James but especially chapter 2, Doesn’t it seem just a little strange to you that the translators only mis translated the scriptures that have to do with baptism and “faith only?” Satan has always worked to destroy what God has said; and always takes the OPPOSITE position from the one That God takes.

Example: #1: GOD told Adam and Eve, if you eat this fruit “YOU WILL DIE.””
SATAN told Eve, if you eat this fruit, “YOU WILL NOT DIE.” You see! Just the OPPOSITE of what God says.
#2 - God says in 1 Peter 3:21, “BAPTISM DOES NOW SAVE US.” What does Satan say?
SATAN says “BAPTISM DOES NOT SAVE US.” It’s just a repeat of Genesis 3, just with a different subject. Again, just the OPPOSITE of what God says in the Bible.
#3 - GOD SAYS, “YOU ARE NOT SAVED BY FAITH ONLY.” James 2:24.
SATAN says “YOU ARE SAVED BY FAITH ONLY.” Who do you think is behind that “faith only “ salvation? Absolutely not God. He has already spoken on “faith only” and HE SAYS IT WONT SAVE YOU. Satan is the one who teaches just the opposite of what God says. Always has; ever since Genesis 3.

Now, Jesus the Son of God, spoke in Mark 16:16 and He said “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved.” Jesus puts salvation AFTER BAPTISM. Where would you expect Satan to put salvation? Before or after Baptism? Well, BEFORE Baptism of course! He is batting 100! I’m not at all surprised. In fact, I would be surprised if Satan did NOT teach it that way; because he always contradicts and says the opposite of what God says, especially when it comes to salvation; because Satan does not want us to obey God and be saved. It is his job to see that people are lost—not saved.

What I AM surprised at are the number of people who read exactly what God has said in the Bible and still choose to believe what Satan says OVER what God says. Just like Eve in the garden.

You can stomp your feet all you want, but it's a 100% true, the words believe, believer, and believing are mistranslations.

Who's to blame God or satan, I don't know the answer to that question.

I do know if the called out ones were being taught by gifted ministers, instead of being self taught, this problem wouldn't have turned into the wide path Jesus warned us about.

You've just been given a huge gift, don't waste it.