My dear friend, let’s look at Acts 16: 31: “So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household,” (NKJV). I will agree that at first blush, this lovely verse might seem to give the impression that the Philippian jailer’s family would be included automatically in being saved once the jailer himself believes. However, I believe that the force of this wonderful salvation verse is that as the jailer himself would be saved by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, even so his family (house) would be saved also if they believed. Salvation is an individual thing between each soul and God. When Nicodemus came to the Lord Jesus by night in John 3:3, Jesus said: “…Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. The individual nature of the conversion of a soul is clearly stated in many NT verses including John 3:16-17; Romans 10:9; John 1:12; John 5:24; Ephesians 2:8-9, and in many other verses.

So, let’s look at what happened with the jailer at Philippi in the aftermath of hearing Paul’s response to the question as to how he might be saved. In Acts 16:32-33 we read: “And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.” It seems clear to me in these verses that the Apostle Paul shared the Word of God, not only to the jailer, but also to the jailer’s family.  Upon their expression of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, not only the jailer himself but also all in his family that heard the Word of the Lord were saved, and upon their confession, all were baptized. Recall if you will the account of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:27-38. Phillip explained the Scriptures to this eunuch, and then we read: “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” Upon his confession of faith, and only then, the eunuch was baptized. And so it must have been for the jailer and his family. Paul would not have baptized any unless they individually confessed Christ. Thus, I do not believe that salvation was automatic for the jailer’s family.  Just think of the testimony of this newly saved man, a Roman jailer who clearly was a tough man, and apt to be harsh with his charges.  This man’s whole character changed the moment he believed, and I’m sure the family could clearly witness his tender care for the wounds he had inflicted upon Paul and Silas when he took them home. I’m sure that the family was deeply moved by seeing this, but then they all heard the preaching, and by the Holy Spirit, the family too were converted.

I truly pray that I have not discouraged your faith in any way. I’m certain that your example of faith and the words you speak to your family will be used by the Lord (Isaiah 55:11). Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15), and it was because of God’s love for lost, ruined sinners that He sent His Son into the world (1 John 4:10). We read in 2 Peter 3:9 that the Lord: “…is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” The Lord wants your family members to be saved even more than you do, and He can use you as an example and the testimony of your new life in Christ to help draw your family and friends to Himself. I don’t know that the Scriptures promise that all your family will respond to God’s message of love, but I know that he will use His Word in a powerful way through His Holy Spirit.  It will be up to them if they heed His calling. Furthermore, the Bible emphasizes prayer, fervent prayer and supplication (Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; and many others). I am certain that you are instant in prayer for your family members and for others whom you are around so that the light of the Gospel may shine in their hearts too. It is our responsibility to plant the seed, but it is the work of the Holy Spirit to open the hearts of individuals. I realize that the following is an OT verse addressed to the faithful of Israel, but I truly believe it applies to Christians who witness for Christ as well, “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him,” (Psalms 126:6). So, my dear friend, be of good cheer, and prayerfully continue living for Christ before your family and the world. God is willing!  (SF)  (647.1)