INTERFERING IN BUSINESS TO SAVE A SOUL
Key verse: 18
NIV
Paul and Silas in Prison
16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer,(A) we were met by a female slave who had a spirit(B) by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God,(C) who are telling you the way to be saved.” 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.(D)
19 When her owners realized that their hope of making money(E) was gone, they seized Paul and Silas(F) and dragged(G) them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar(H) 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans(I) to accept or practice.”(J)
22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods.(K) 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer(L) was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.(M)
Cross references
- Acts 16:16 : ver 13
- Acts 16:16 : Dt 18:11; 1Sa 28:3, 7
- Acts 16:17 : S Mk 5:7
- Acts 16:18 : S Mk 16:17
- Acts 16:19 : ver 16; Ac 19:25, 26
- Acts 16:19 : S Ac 15:22
- Acts 16:19 : Ac 8:3; 17:6; 21:30; Jas 2:6
- Acts 16:20 : Ac 17:6
- Acts 16:21 : ver 12
- Acts 16:21 : Est 3:8
- Acts 16:22 : 2Co 11:25; 1Th 2:2
- Acts 16:23 : ver 27, 36
- Acts 16:24 : Job 13:27; 33:11; Jer 20:2, 3; 29:26
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Paul and Silas in Prison
16 As we were going to (A)the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had (B)a spirit of (C)divination and (D)brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us, (E)crying out, “These men are (F)servants of (G)the Most High God, who proclaim to you (H)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)“I command you (J)in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And (K)it came out that very hour.
19 But (L)when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and (M)dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. 20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 21 They (N)advocate customs that are not lawful for us (O)as Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders (P)to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner (Q)prison and fastened their feet in (R)the stocks.
Read full chapterCross references
- Acts 16:16 : ver. 13
- Acts 16:16 : Luke 13:11
- Acts 16:16 : See Lev. 19:31
- Acts 16:16 : ver. 19
- Acts 16:17 : See James 2:19
- Acts 16:17 : Dan. 3:26
- Acts 16:17 : See Mark 5:7
- Acts 16:17 : [ch. 9:2; Matt. 7:14]
- Acts 16:18 : [Mark 1:25, 34]
- Acts 16:18 : See Mark 9:38
- Acts 16:18 : [Matt. 17:18]
- Acts 16:19 : ver. 16; [ch. 19:25, 26]
- Acts 16:19 : ch. 17:6-8; 21:30; James 2:6; [ch. 8:3; 18:12; Matt. 10:18]
- Acts 16:21 : [Esth. 3:8]
- Acts 16:21 : [ver. 12]
- Acts 16:22 : 2 Cor. 6:5; 11:23-25; 1 Thess. 2:2
- Acts 16:24 : See Luke 21:12
- Acts 16:24 : Job 13:27; 33:11; Jer. 20:2, 3; 29:26
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. A captive girl set free (16-18)
On the way to the place of prayer, Paul was harassed by a slave girl with a spirit which made her clairvoyant. She earned a lot of money for her owners by fortune-telling. She kept on following Paul's party around, announcing that they were servants of the Most High God who taught the way to be saved. Paul was troubled. This girl seemed to be asking for help. So in the name of Jesus, Paul cast out the demon.
2. Angry businessmen (19-24)
The owners of the slave girl realized that they could no longer use her to make money. They were furious, and had Paul and Silas arrested and dragged before the authorities. The crowd joined in and God's servants were beaten and put in prison. Those who challenge a materialistic world with the gospel will surely get into trouble.
Prayer: Lord, help me to have a value system that puts people before money. Help me to challenge this materialistic society with the gospel.
One Word: Love people, not money