Acts 16:19 kjv
And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,
Acts 16:19 nkjv
But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.
Acts 16:19 niv
When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities.
Acts 16:19 esv
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.
Acts 16:19 nlt
Her masters' hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace.
Acts 16 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 16:16 | As we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit of Python | Demonic influence/possession |
| Acts 16:17 | She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God | Testimony of demons about divine identity |
| Acts 16:18 | Paul, annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ, I command you | Authority over spirits in Jesus' name |
| Acts 16:18 | to come out of her.” And it came out that very instant. | Immediate deliverance from demonic power |
| Luke 4:33 | And in the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon | Jesus encountering demon-possessed individuals |
| Mark 5:9 | And he asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” | Multiple demonic spirits within one person |
| Mark 5:12 | And the demons begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs...” | Demons' desire for control and destruction |
| 1 Cor 12:2 | You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you may be | Contrasting true worship with idolatry |
| 1 John 4:1 | Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God | Discernment of spirits |
| Gal 5:19-21 | Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry | Evil spirits associated with sinful behavior |
| Deut 18:10 | There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering | Condemnation of pagan practices |
| 2 Kings 23:5 | and he burned the ashes of the idolatrous priests... and burned them on the altar of | Exposing and removing idolatrous practices |
| John 10:10 | The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life | Jesus' purpose contrasting with evil |
| Rom 8:15 | For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received | Freedom in the Spirit of adoption |
| Eph 2:2 | in which you once walked, following the course of this world, in the prince of the power | Worldly power systems and influence |
| Acts 19:19 | And many of those who had believed came, confessing and telling their practices. | Repentance and renunciation of past sins |
| Acts 13:10 | "Son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and trickery | Accusation of Satan's agents |
| Ps 50:14 | Offer to God thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High | True worship and fulfilling vows |
| John 14:26 | But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you | The Holy Spirit as a teacher and guide |
| Rev 18:11 | And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their | Economic disruption caused by divine judgment |
| Acts 20:20 | I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. | Completeness of apostolic teaching |
Acts 16 verses
Acts 16 19 Meaning
Paul and Silas were seized by their masters due to the significant financial loss incurred from the demonic possession of their slave girl being removed. This loss of income meant they could no longer profit from her fortune-telling abilities. The crowd joined in the accusation, showing the anger and confusion over the apostles' disruptive influence.
Acts 16 19 Context
This verse occurs during Paul's second missionary journey in Philippi. The apostles Paul and Silas were previously exercising their ministry, including casting out a spirit from a young slave girl who had been used by her owners for divination, a practice common in the ancient world and often associated with demonic influence. This act disrupted the economic system benefiting her owners, leading to the confrontation described in this verse. The preceding verses (Acts 16:16-18) detail the event of the girl's deliverance and the testimony the demonic spirit gave of Paul and Silas. The subsequent verses will show the immediate consequences of this public confrontation.
Acts 16 19 Word Analysis
- But ( δὲ - de): A conjunction indicating a contrast or a shift in the narrative. It introduces the immediate consequence of the previous events.
- when ( δὲ - de): While also a conjunction, in this sequence it highlights the immediate reaction that followed the spirit's expulsion.
- her masters (οἱ κύριοι αὐτῆς - hoi kurioi autēs): Refers to the owners or proprietors of the slave girl. In the context of ancient slavery, these individuals held legal and economic claim over her.
- saw (ἰδόντες - idontes): Aorist participle of ὁράω (horaō), meaning "to see" or "to perceive." It signifies a realization or understanding of what had happened.
- that (ὅτι - hoti): A conjunction introducing a subordinate clause, explaining the reason for their reaction.
- the loss (ἡ ζημία - hē zēmia): Denotes damage, loss, or profitlessness. Here, it specifically refers to the financial loss incurred.
- of her gain (τοῦ κέρδους αὐτῆς - tou kerdous autēs): "Kerdos" refers to profit, advantage, or gain. This loss was economic; the slave girl’s ability to practice divination was a source of income for her masters.
- was gone (ἐξῆλθεν - exēlthen): Perfect tense of ἐξέρχομαι (exerchomai), meaning "to go out," "to come out," or "to depart." This indicates the complete and final removal of the spirit, rendering the girl incapable of her former practice.
- they took (συνάρπασαντες - synarpasantes): Aorist participle of συναρπάζω (synarpazō), meaning "to drag away," "to seize," or "to snatch." This implies a forceful and abrupt action by the masters.
- Paul (τὸν Παῦλον - ton Paulon): The Apostle Paul.
- and (καὶ - kai): A conjunction connecting Paul and Silas.
- Silas (τὸν Σιλᾶν - ton Silan): Silas, a close companion of Paul.
- into (εἰς - eis): A preposition indicating motion into a place.
- the marketplace (τὴν ἀγορὰν - tēn agoran): The "agora" was the public square, a center of commerce, legal proceedings, and social life in ancient cities.
- drew (ἤγαγον - ēgagon): Aorist indicative of ἄγω (agō), meaning "to lead," "to bring," or "to drag."
- them (αὐτοὺς - autous): Referring to Paul and Silas.
Words/Group Analysis:
- "the loss of her gain was gone": This phrase concisely captures the economic motive behind the masters' anger. The spirit’s departure directly resulted in their inability to profit from the slave girl’s sorcery or soothsaying. The concept of "gain" (kerdos) underscores the commercial nature of her exploitation.
- "they seized Paul and Silas": The verb "synarpasantes" (συνάρπασαντες) indicates a sudden, possibly violent, act. This was not a calm legal complaint but a forceful apprehension.
- "into the marketplace": Taking them to the agora was significant. This was where public business, trials, and proclamations occurred. They were bringing them before the public for accusation and judgment.
Acts 16 19 Bonus Section
This event in Philippi foreshadows broader patterns of persecution faced by Paul and the early church. Opposition often arose not from theological disagreements alone, but from economic disruptions caused by the Gospel. For instance, in Ephesus (Acts 19), the silversmiths who made idols of Artemis rioted because Paul’s preaching threatened their trade. The accusation that Paul and Silas were disrupting the "peace and order" of the city was a common tactic used against early Christians. This incident demonstrates that obedience to God can lead to conflict with worldly systems that prioritize profit and tradition over truth and spiritual freedom. The use of divination by the slave girl aligns with practices condemned in the Old Testament (e.g., Deuteronomy 18:10-12), marking the demonic practice as contrary to God's will.
Acts 16 19 Commentary
The immediate and strong reaction of the slave girl's owners highlights the materialistic motivations behind many practices in the pagan world. The spirit of divination, while demonic, was a source of financial revenue. When Paul, by the power of the Holy Spirit, removed this source of income, the owners saw a direct attack on their livelihood. They leveraged the prevailing fear and prejudice against new religious movements and perceived troublemakers. Bringing Paul and Silas to the marketplace (agora) ensured a public accusation and immediate attention from authorities or influential citizens, seeking to stop the disruption of their societal and economic order. This incident reveals a clash between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world, where spiritual freedom is seen as an economic threat by those profiting from bondage and superstition.