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

ACTS 16:34KJV
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Acts 16:34 (KJV)

What does Acts 16:34 mean?

Acts 16:34 describes how the jailer brought Paul and Silas into his home, served them a meal, and celebrated with his entire household because they all now believed in God. The verse highlights the joy and unity that came from their new faith together as a family.

The setting is Philippi, where a jailer had just witnessed a miraculous event involving Paul and Silas. After asking how to be saved and hearing the message about Jesus, the jailer and his whole household believed. This verse shows the immediate, practical results of their faith: hospitality, shared joy, and a new sense of belonging together in belief.

The Greek behind Acts 16:34

  • "Rejoiced" (χαίρω, chairō): This word means to be glad or to celebrate. The Greek here suggests a deep, heartfelt joy, not just a polite happiness, emphasizing the life-changing impact of faith on the jailer and his family.
  • "Believing" (πιστεύω, pisteuō): This word means to trust or have faith. The verse uses it to show that the whole household genuinely trusted in God, not just the jailer alone.
  • "All his house" (ὅλος, holos + οἶκος, oikos): This phrase means everyone in the household, which often included family members and possibly servants. The Greek makes it clear that the new faith was shared by the entire group, not just the head of the house.

Why Acts 16:34 matters

  • Acts 16:34 shows that faith in God can bring immediate joy and practical change, even in difficult circumstances like imprisonment.
  • The verse emphasizes that the message of Jesus was not just for individuals, but could transform whole families or households at once.
  • This moment connects to the wider story by showing the ripple effect of Paul and Silas’s ministry: their suffering led to salvation and celebration for others.

Where else these words appear

“rejoiced” Greek G21 · used in 11 verses

  • Matthew 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
  • John 5:35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
  • 1 Peter 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

“meat” Greek G5132 · used in 14 verses

  • Matthew 15:27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
  • Luke 16:21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
  • John 2:15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;

“set” Greek G3908 · used in 18 verses

  • Matthew 13:24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
  • Luke 9:16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.
  • Acts 17:3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

“brought” Greek G321 · used in 24 verses

  • Matthew 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
  • Acts 12:4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
  • Acts 27:2 And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.