Acts 16:16
And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
At Philippi, where the gospel had come to Europe after the call from Macedonia, the apostles on their way to prayer were met by a slave girl controlled by an evil spirit whose fortune-telling brought her masters much profit. She belonged to those who welcome satanic influence for supernatural power and have no struggle against it. Though the spirit through her proclaimed them servants of the Most High God showing the way of salvation, its testimony was meant to mingle error with truth, distract from the message, and make their work appear to come from the same occult power. Paul in the name of Jesus Christ commanded the spirit to leave her, and it left, ending her masters' gain and leaving her quiet, peaceful and in her right mind. Her case warns that the same devising comes today and is discerned only by those firm as steel to principle, who purge sophistry and hold fast present truth whatever the cost.
Setting in Gospel Advance
The meeting on the way to prayer belongs to the proclamation of the gospel beyond Asia Minor at the time when the way was preparing for Paul and his fellow workers to cross into Europe, beginning with the night vision at Troas of the man of Macedonia calling for help. That vision admitted of no delay, and Paul and Silas and Timothy, accompanied by Luke and assured that the Lord had called them to preach the gospel in Macedonia, sailed from Troas with a straight course to Samothracia, then to Neapolis, and then to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony.
It is set at Philippi, where Luke labored with Paul as both physician and gospel minister. Paul had heard of Luke's skill as a physician, as one entrusted by the Lord with a special work, and sought him out and secured his cooperation. After a time Paul left Luke at Philippi, where he remained for several years doing double service, doing his part as a physician and then praying for the Lord's healing power to rest on the afflicted. His medical skill opened the way for the gospel message to find access to hearts and opened hearts and many doors to preach the gospel among the heathen as a medical missionary.
Nature of Demonic Opposition
As they went to prayer and to teaching, the apostles were met by a damsel possessed by an evil spirit, an agent of Satan, whose divination and soothsaying by fortune-telling brought her masters much gain and profit. She belonged to a class who welcomed satanic influence in order to gain supernatural power, and unlike possessed sufferers they had no conflict with the demons.
Though the evil spirit recognized them as servants of the Most High God showing the way of salvation and cried this out for many days, its words were true in form yet satanic in source. Its public endorsement and supernatural claims distracted people from the gospel message and drew attention away from the truth preached. This publicity harmed their work and threatened the disciples' influence by making the apostles' work appear to share the same spiritual source and occult power as her divination, while her influence helped to strengthen idolatry.
Paul commanded the spirit to leave her in the name of Jesus Christ and it left, troubled by their presence and driven out. Her masters then lost their source of income and expected profit, for her deliverance threatened and ended their profit from her divinations. They became enraged because their profit was threatened and ended.
After being freed from satanic influence she was quiet, peaceful, and in her right mind, with changed countenance and demeanor. She had been a troublesome subject who had caused the city and the magistrates much trouble. Her visible transformation helped them realize that the two men who freed her were innocent and likely innocent of the charge for which they had been scourged and imprisoned.
Warning Against Satanic Sophistry
As Paul and Silas were teaching, they were met by a woman possessed with a spirit of divination who brought her masters much gain by soothsaying, and whose influence helped to strengthen idolatry. Though she declared them to be servants of the most high God showing the way of salvation, it was Satan speaking through her, hoping to mingle his sophistry with the truths they proclaimed in order to undermine the principles of faith. That speaking then was the devising of the enemy coming, and the same speaking comes today and will not be known unless there are men as true as steel to principle, with sound principles brought into the home and into the church. It is an example of the devising of the enemy which will not be known when it comes again unless there are men and women who understand good management in the home and in the church and who stand as firm as a rock and as true as steel to principle, refusing to seek advantage for a favored place because of personal interest. Her case shows the same danger exists today when the enemy tries to bring in sophistry through those who ought to be praying for understanding of Scripture, so scientific sophistry must be purged, every evil devising rebuked, and the living principles of present truth held fast whatever the consequences, accepting no thread of sophistry from any doctor or minister.