Acts · Chapter 16
Acts 16:31 — Bible Verse Meaning & Context
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Both translations, side by side
WEB · World English Bible
"They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”"
KJV · King James Version
"And1161 they said2036, Believe4100 on1909 the Lord2962 Jesus2424 Christ5547, and2532 thou4771 shalt be saved4982, and2532 thy4675 house3624."
How the translations differ: The WEB is a modern public-domain revision of the 1901 ASV; the KJV dates to 1611. The KJV uses thou, shalt, thy, house, while the WEB renders these as you, will, your, household. Both translate the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text — the differences are stylistic, not theological.
In context
Acts 16:31 in Acts 16
A Bible verse rarely stands alone. Here is Acts 16:31 read with the verses immediately before and after — the surrounding flow of Acts 16. Read the full chapter →
- v.29 He called for lights, sprang in, fell down trembling before Paul and Silas,
- v.30 brought them out, and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
- v.31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
- v.32 They spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his house.
- v.33 He took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes, and was immediately baptized, he and all his household.
Book background
About the Book of Acts
- Testament
- New Testament
- Genre
- Church history
- Author
- Luke
- Date written
- c. 62 AD
- Audience
- Theophilus and the early church
- Chapters
- 28
Acts traces the gospel's spread from Jerusalem to Rome — from Pentecost (chapter 2) through the apostolic ministry of Peter and the missionary journeys of Paul. It is the Holy Spirit's book as much as the apostles' — the Spirit is the active agent in nearly every chapter. The book ends mid-action: Paul preaching in Rome, "with all boldness, unhindered."
Setting: A history of the church's first three decades — Jerusalem to Rome.
Key themes: Holy Spirit · mission · witness · church growth · persecution
Memorisation aid
How to memorise Acts 16:31
Acts 16:31 contains 17 words in 4 clauses. Learn one clause at a time, then chain them. The first-letter mnemonic (FLM) under each clause is a memory hook — once you can speak the FLM from memory, the full clause follows.
- 1
They said
TS
- 2
“Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ
BITLJC
- 3
and you will be saved
AYWBS
- 4
you and your household.”
YAYH
Frequently asked
FAQ about Acts 16:31
What does Acts 16:31 say?
Acts 16:31 reads: "They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”" — from the New Testament, Acts (Church history). The full verse is shown above with both the World English Bible (WEB) and King James Version (KJV) translations side by side.
What book of the Bible is Acts 16:31 in?
Acts 16:31 is in the book of Acts, traditionally attributed to Luke and written around c. 62 AD. Acts is church history in the New Testament, originally addressed to Theophilus and the early church. Best known for Pentecost and the missionary journeys of Paul.
What is the difference between Acts 16:31 in WEB and KJV?
Acts 16:31 in the World English Bible (WEB) reads: "They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”". The King James Version (KJV) reads: "And1161 they said2036, Believe4100 on1909 the Lord2962 Jesus2424 Christ5547, and2532 thou4771 shalt be saved4982, and2532 thy4675 house3624.". The WEB is a modern public-domain translation that updates the KJV's 1611 English while keeping a similar formal-equivalence style. Both render the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text.
How long is Acts 16:31?
Acts 16:31 is 17 words in the WEB translation (93 characters), broken into 4 clauses. It is short and well-suited to memorisation. Estimated reading time is about 5 seconds.
How can I memorise Acts 16:31?
To memorise Acts 16:31, split it into its 4 natural clauses and learn one at a time. Repeat the full verse out loud five times, then write it from memory. Saving the verse as a photo wallpaper using our verse image studio helps daily review — the visual association with a memorable background dramatically improves recall.
Why does Acts 16:31 matter in Acts?
Acts traces the gospel's spread from Jerusalem to Rome — from Pentecost (chapter 2) through the apostolic ministry of Peter and the missionary journeys of Paul. It is the Holy Spirit's book as much as the apostles' — the Spirit is the active agent in nearly every chapter. The book ends mid-action: Paul preaching in Rome, "with all boldness, unhindered." Acts 16:31 sits within this larger story — Acts as a whole emphasises Holy Spirit, mission, witness.
How can I apply Acts 16:31 today?
Many readers use Acts 16:31 as a daily reminder verse — saving it as a phone wallpaper, sharing it on Pinterest, or memorising it for prayer. The verse studio on this page lets you download Acts 16:31 on 52 different backgrounds for free. Pair the verse with the surrounding chapter context shown above to understand its full meaning before applying it.
More designs
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John 3:16
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Philippians 4:13
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Psalm 23:1
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Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says Yahweh, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope and a latter end.”
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Romans 8:28
“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
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1 John 4:8
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1 Corinthians 13:4-7
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Isaiah 40:31
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Psalm 46:1
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Hebrews 11:1
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