Acts 16 17

Acts 16:17 kjv

The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

Acts 16:17 nkjv

This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, "These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation."

Acts 16:17 niv

She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved."

Acts 16:17 esv

She followed Paul and us, crying out, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation."

Acts 16:17 nlt

She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved."

Acts 16 verses

Acts 16 17 Meaning

This verse describes an event where a female slave, possessed by a spirit of divination, followed Paul and his companions, proclaiming their true identity as servants of the Most High God who proclaim the way of salvation. Her persistent proclamation, while true, became a nuisance and hindrance to Paul's ministry.

Acts 16 17 Context

In Acts chapter 16, Paul and Silas are in Philippi, a Roman colony. They have met Lydia, a seller of purple cloth, and have begun a ministry there. The incident with the slave girl occurs as they are going to a place of prayer. This passage highlights the spiritual warfare encountered by the apostles as they spread the Gospel. The girl's proclamation, while accurate, was rooted in a demonic spirit that profited her owners, and it threatened to draw undue attention and potentially mislead people regarding the true source of the message. Paul's intervention frees the girl and leads to the arrest and imprisonment of him and Silas, setting the stage for further miraculous events in Philippi.

Acts 16 17 Word analysis

• "She": Refers to the slave girl.
• "Followed": Indicates continuous pursuit.
• "Paul": The apostle, the primary target of her proclamation.
• "And us": Includes Silas and potentially Timothy or Luke, the apostolic team.
• "Crying out": Loudly shouting, drawing attention.
• "Saying": Uttering the words that follow.
• "These men": A direct reference to Paul and his companions.
• "Are servants": Greek: doulous (δούλους), meaning bondservants or slaves, emphasizing submission and ownership.
• "of the Most High God": Greek: theou hypsistou (θεοῦ ὑψίστου). This title for God highlights His supreme sovereignty and elevated status, a common designation used by pagan deities or demonic spirits acknowledging a higher power (see Gen 14:18, 20, 22).
• "Who proclaim to you": Greek: proangellontas (προαγγέλλοντας), meaning to announce beforehand, or to herald.
• "The way of salvation": Greek: ten hodon tou soterias (τὴν ὁδὸν τοῦ σωτηρίας). This phrase encapsulates the Gospel message – Jesus Christ, the path to spiritual deliverance and eternal life.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Spirit of divination": Greek: pneuma Pythona (πνεῦμα Πύθωνα). The term "Python" refers to the mythical serpent slain by Apollo at Delphi, associated with prophecy and divination. In this context, it denotes a spirit that enables foretelling future events or revealing hidden knowledge, characteristic of sorcery and spiritualism. This aligns with prohibitions against such practices in the Old Testament.
• "Servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation": This declaration, while factually true concerning Paul and Silas, is uttered by a source of demonic power. Its purpose was not to genuinely glorify God or advance the Gospel, but to attach itself to Paul's ministry, potentially for deceptive purposes or to gain an audience. The demonic entities often recognized Jesus’ identity (Mark 1:24; 3:11; 5:7), but their affirmations were not redemptive.

Acts 16 17 Bonus section

This incident in Philippi is significant because it marks Paul's first encounter with this specific type of spiritual possession described as a "spirit of Python" or divination, common in Hellenistic culture, particularly associated with the Oracle of Delphi. It also leads to the dramatic conversion of the Philippian jailer, which is a pivotal moment in the establishment of the church in that city. The demon’s cry about the "Most High God" and the "way of salvation" shows the perversion that even false spiritual powers can display, using truths of God to mislead. The owners’ anger is a clear indication of their financial exploitation of the girl’s abilities, highlighting the material and often oppressive nature of pagan religious practices.

Acts 16 17 Commentary

The slave girl, possessed by a spirit of divination, acted as an unwitting herald for Paul and Silas. Her shouts accurately identified them as servants of the Most High God, proclaiming salvation. However, this was not a divine endorsement but a manipulative tactic by the demonic realm to potentially mislead or create a false association. Paul, discerning the source and motive, was vexed not by the truth of her statement but by the hindering influence and the deceptive origin of the proclamation. His decision to cast out the spirit was an act of spiritual warfare, to purify the message and protect the nascent ministry in Philippi from such compromised influence. This event demonstrates that even true statements can be employed by evil to achieve its aims, and the discerning ear of a believer, led by the Holy Spirit, is crucial.