THE CONTEXT:
This is Paul's Second Missionary Journey (49-52 A.D.) as recorded in Acts 15:30 - 18:21. Paul is accompanied by Silas (15:37-38), and they are later joined by young Mark (16:1). Because of the "we" passages in 16:10-16, some scholars believe that Luke (the author of this book) is also part of Paul's party.
This missionary journey has taken Paul from Jerusalem north to Antioch of Syria and then westwards through the interior of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). A vision of a man from Macedonia (modern-day Greece) caused Paul and Silas to cross the Aegean Sea to go there (16:9-12). This introduced the Gospel to the continent of Europe for the first time (Turkey is in Asia and Greece is in Europe).
Paul and his companions found a "place of prayer" outside the city of Philippi on the sabbath (16:13). They met Lydia, a seller of purple, there, and baptized her and her family (16:11-15). Lydia, a seller of purple (and probably affluent), offered them the hospitality of her home, which they accepted (16:15).
As the story continues, the disciples are still in Philippi, where they will be for the balance of chapter 16. This chapter records Paul's encounter with Lydia, the successful businesswoman (16:11-15) and his encounter with a slave-girl (16:16-18) -women from opposite ends of the social and economic scale. It also records the conversion of a Roman jailer and his household (16:29-34), demonstrating the ability of the Gospel to penetrate into the hearts of people from all walks of life. These three recipients of Paul's ministry (Lydia, the slave-girl, and the Roman jailer) "epitomized all whom the Jews held in contempt-women, slaves, and Gentiles" (Williams, 280).
ACTS 16:16-18. A GIRL HAVING A SPIRIT OF DIVINATION
16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation." 18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!" And it came out that very hour.
This story has parallels in three stories of Jesus' exorcisms:
"It happened, as we were going to prayer" (v. 16a). This appears to be the same place of prayer where they earlier encountered Lydia (16:13). Luke does not tell us whether this is a sabbath.
"that a certain girl" (v. 16b). This is one of several "we" passages in the book of Acts (see also 16:10-15; 20:5-8, 13-15; 21:1-18; 27:1 - 28:16). Because Luke is the author of the book of Acts, many scholars have concluded that Luke has joined Paul and his companions (Silas and Timothy) at this point.
Lydia was both financially prosperous and socially independent. This girl is neither. Her owners dictate her every action and confiscate any money that her efforts produce.
"having a spirit of divination (pneuma pythona-a python spirit) met us" (v. 16b). In Greek mythology, the great serpent, Python, "lived in a cave near Delphi....and guarded the oracle there" (Encarta). People believed that this oracle provided divinely inspired wisdom to humans, so Greeks associated the python with divine inspiration.
When Luke says that this girl has a pneuma pythona-a python spirit-he means that people believe that she can tap into divine powers for wisdom and guidance-that she is, in essence, a human intermediary for divine powers.
"who brought her masters much gain by fortune telling" (manteuomene-prophesying) (v. 16d). In reporting this, Luke clearly sees problems on two levels. First, the girl's owners have enslaved her for the purpose of enriching themselves. Second, the spiritual powers to which this girl has access are demonic.
Many similar forms of slavery exist throughout the world today. Peddlers of sex and pornography often use enslaved children, male and female, for their purposes. In some cases, they kidnap the children. In others, they buy children for a small price from impoverished parents-often under false pretenses. In nations torn by civil strife, rebels often capture children and turn them into killing machines. Middle Eastern nations often import female workers whose legal contracts constitute a form of indentured servitude. Anyone who thinks that slavery ended with the American Civil War is sadly mistaken.
"Following Paul and us" (v. 17a). This "us" represents the last "we" passage in Acts until 10:6, leaving us to wonder if Luke drops out at this point.
"These men are servants of the Most High God" (v. 17b). This woman, who is a slave to demonic spirits and evil men, recognizes that Paul and his companions are slaves to the Most High God.
Paul would not disagree with her characterization. In his Epistle to the Romans, he introduces himself as "Paul, a servant (Greek: doulos) of Jesus Christ" (Romans 1:1). The Greek word doulos means bond-servant or slave. Paul says, "Don't you know that to whom you present yourselves as servants to obedience, his servants you are whom you obey; whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness?" (Romans 6:16). He calls us to "present your members as servants to righteousness for sanctification" (Romans 6:19). He says, "For he who was called in the Lord being a bondservant is the Lord's free man. Likewise he who was called being free is Christ's bondservant" (1 Corinthians 7:22). He explains, "For though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more" (1 Corinthians 9:19).
"who proclaim to us a way of salvation" (v. 17c). This is exactly what Paul and his companions have come to do.
"She was doing this for many days. But Paul, becoming greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, 'I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!' It came out that very hour"(v. 18). This girl's witness is true, but subject to misinterpretation by people who know nothing of Paul or the God whom he represents. As Greeks, they would be inclined to equate "Most High God" with Zeus.
"I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her" (v. 18b). This is very much like Jesus' command to the demon, "Be silent, and come out of him!" (Luke 4:35).
"It came out that very hour" (v. 18c). Earlier, when Jesus exorcised the unclean spirit, the demon "came out of him, having done him no harm" (Luke 4:35)-much like the spirit leaves this slave-girl (v. 18c).
This exorcism demonstrates God's power over demonic spirits.
ACTS 16:19 - HER MASTERS SEIZED PAUL AND SILAS
19 But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.
"But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace (agoran) before the rulers" (archontas) (v. 19). To her owners, this girl is nothing but a money machine. Seeing that Paul has wrecked their business venture, they set out to wreck Paul and Silas. Timothy and Luke seem not to be involved at this point.
"into the marketplace"(agoran) (19b). The agora was the public square in the center of the city. Merchants would have their booths there, but the agora would also be where authorities would hold public court.
NOTE: The rest of this chapter was covered two weeks ago in the sixth lesson.
BLB COMMENTARY - ACTS 16:16-19
2. (Acts 16:16-18a) A demon-possessed slave girl follows Paul.
16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation." 18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!" And it came out that very hour. 19 But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.
II. Psalm 139:13-16 - The Miracle of Life-Created by God
This magnificent Psalm is titled, For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. It does not surprise us that such a significant Psalm came from David's pen, who was "the sweet psalmist of Israel" (2 Samuel 23:1). The Chief Musician is thought by some to be the Lord God Himself, and others suppose him to be a leader of choirs or musicians in David's time, such as Heman the Singer or Asaph (1 Chronicles 6:33, 16:17, and 25:6).
PSALM 139:13-16 - THE ETERNAL GOD FORMED ME
13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
v. 13a: "For you formed my inward parts" - When King David wrote this song of praise (Psalm 139), he began with these words: You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. (Psalm 139:1-4). This praise is completely about God. He is present everywhere (omnipresent), He knows everything (omniscient), and He is all powerful (omnipotent). "You formed" - The word translated as "formed" suggests an additional understanding as in "acquiring" (i.e. assuming ownership). We belong to God, and we are His handiwork. "My inwards parts" - Literally this means our "internal organs" (see Exodus 29:13).
v. 13b: "You knitted me together in my mother's womb" - The word translated as "knit" has the sense of surrounding it all (i.e., the inward parts) with a covering - namely, our flesh. "in my mother's womb" - God knows human biology. When fertilization occurs, and the sperm and the egg exchange DNA and chromosomes, life begins. Fashioned from the inside out, the heart begins to beat, the kidneys begin to function, and brain waves are soon detected. If born too soon the internal organs likely are not fully formed, and the lungs are not completely developed. Also, the skin tends to be very thin - blood vessels are easily visible. Lacking sufficient skin and surface fat the premature baby is unable to stay warm. That is why incubators are used. Yet, the child belongs to God from the earliest moment his or her life comes into existence - still in the womb growing and maturing each hour.
v. 14a: "I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made " - I praise You because: This is all about God. We marvel at the power of God who creates all things - but since you created my inmost being, this praise is more personal. "I praise you because of what You did for me." How extraordinary God is in what He has done to give each of us life. "I am fearfully and wonderfully made" - "Wonderfully" can also be translated as "distinct" (Exodus 9:4) or "distinguished" (Exodus 33:16). There is something different, special and unique about God's creation of human life.
v. 14b: "Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well" - " Your works are wonderful..." - The hills and mountains, valleys and canyons, rivers and lakes, plants and animals - and now human life - it is all overwhelming as one considers the creative command of God that made it all. "...I know that full well" - Literally, "my soul knows it." The wonderful nature of God as the Creator of all things is not just a logical conclusion. It is a conviction of faith. Our reasoning suggests a tremendous power behind all creation. It is the heart of faith that knows down to the very soul it is God. Although we did not witness when He laid the foundations of the earth, nor did we see Him form the first man and woman. Yet, we know God through His Word and by the power of the Holy Spirit that He created everything. Because of faith we know it full well.
v. 15a: "My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret" - "My frame" - The psalmist expounds on the manner in which life matures in the womb. "Frame" is often translated as "bones" or "strength." The frame, the bones and muscle that provide the support structure for the human body, are maturing under God's watchful eye. "...when I was made in secret" - "Secret" sometimes means "covered over" or "hidden out of sight" (see Job 22:14; 40:21). Just seven verses earlier the David wrote: If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. (Psalm 139:8)
A person does not become meaningful to God only at birth. God doesn't lose track of people. He doesn't look up and suddenly find someone missing. Even as life grows during its earliest stages within the mother's womb, God was there.
v. 15b: "intricately woven in the depths of the earth - "...when I was woven together" - We are products of God's handiwork, in the sense of a divine designer. "...in the depths of the earth." - In verse 13 we are clearly told we were created in our mother's womb. Described there as a "secret place," the womb is now called "the depths of the earth." God created Adam as follows: Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7). In the OT Job says this about our nature: I am the same as you in God's sight; I too am a piece of clay. (Job 33:6); and the book of Ecclesiastes says this about our nature: All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. (Ecclesiastes 3:20)
v. 16a: "Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them,the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them" - "Your eyes saw my unformed substance" - God observes our maturation in the womb. "Unformed substance" literally means "wrapped together as in a bunch or a ball." Today, when you see pictures of life as it develops in the womb it is often unrecognizable in its earliest stages - like a ball or bunch of folded material. i. Obviously people in Old Testament times understood the intricacies of human development. They understood that life was not fully formed. It was not miniaturized in perfect form. Rather, life was real - though unformed and not completely recognizable. In those earliest stages we were no less human or no less a person, but we were "unfinished" - not fully developed.
v. 16b: "in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them" - This is not a new revelation. God had said earlier: See now that I myself am he! There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring to life. (Deuteronomy 32:39a). In an earlier Psalm, King David acknowledged to God: My times are in your hands. (Psalm 31:15)
BLB COMMENTARY - Ps. 139:13-16 - The eternal God formed me.
13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
