---
title: Acts 16:30
url: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/acts-16-30/
markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/acts-16-30.md
type: verse
perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching
reference: Acts 16:30
testament: NT
section: Acts
index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt
---

# Acts 16:30

## Text (Berean Standard Bible)

> Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

## JW Usage

JWs acknowledge the Philippian jailer's question — "What must I do to get saved?" — but redefine the answer. While Paul and Silas replied "Believe in the Lord Jesus" (Acts 16:31), the Watchtower adds requirements: accurate knowledge, association with the organisation, regular field service, meeting attendance, and endurance to the end. The NWT's "exercise faith" rendering of pisteuo supports this expanded definition.

## Protestant Usage

The jailer's question and Paul's answer form the most compact gospel summary in Acts: "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31). Paul does not mention an organisation, a preaching quota, or a governing body. The simplicity matches the apostolic pattern throughout Acts — Acts 2:38 (repent and be baptised), Acts 20:21 (repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus). Every key gospel verse works in the NWT without alteration to the core meaning. The parachute analogy clarifies: faith is not another work added to existing works — it is the transfer of trust from oneself to Christ. The parachute saves because of what it is, not because of the jumper's arm-flapping effort.

## Arguments Using This Verse

- [Repentance and Faith — The Two-Question Gospel Pivot](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/repentance-faith-gospel.md) — Acts 20:21 / Ephesians 2:8–9 / Acts 16:31 [Salvation]
- [The Parachute Analogy — Trust, Not Effort](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/parachute-analogy.md) — Ephesians 2:8–9 / Way of the Master [Salvation]
- [Just AND Merciful — How the Cross Solves the Problem](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/just-and-merciful.md) — Romans 3:26 / Exodus 34:6–7 [Salvation]