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Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

Acts 16:16-18

Exorcism of a Possessed Girl. The walk to the place of prayer is made frequently, and the party comes to be known. A girl who carried on a trade in the fortune-telling of these days notes them; a girl believed to be possessed by a python, a spirit which could on being consulted foretell or warn, possibly a ventriloquist. She attaches herself to the party and gives her version, to be taken as inspired, of what they are. The treatment for possession is applied to her successfully by Paul, who is wearied of hearing her, and her gift ceases at once (cf. Mark 1:23 ff; Mark 3:11 f.).

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See also Acts 16:16-18 in other biblical comments:

  • A Textual Commentary On The Greek New Testament by Bruce M. Metzger

    ACTS 16:16 pu,qwna The more difficult reading appears to be pu,qwna (î74 a A B C* D* 81 326 1837 vg arm), which has been replaced in some manuscripts (î45 C3 D2 E H L P most m...

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Acts 16:16. _AS WE WENT TO PRAYER_] εις προσευχην, _Into the_ _proseucha_: Acts 16:13, and Luke 6:12. The article, την, is added here by ABCE, several others, _Origen_ and _Theophylact_: thus m...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    AS WE WENT TO PRAYER - Greek: as we were going to the proseuche, ‘the place of prayer, Acts 16:13. Whether this was on the same day in which the conversion of Lydia occurred, or at another time, is no...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 16 _ 1. In Derbe and Lystra again. Timotheus (Acts 16:1)._ 2. The Preaching forbidden in Asia (Acts 16:6). 3. The Vision of the Man from Macedonia (Acts 16:9). 4. The Gospel in Europe ...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    A SON IN THE FAITH (Acts 16:1-5)...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    When we were on our way to the place of prayer.. it happened that a certain slave-girl who had a spirit which made her able to give oracles met us. By her soothsaying she provided much gain for her ow...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    DAMSEL. Greek. _paidiske._ See note on Acts 12:13. read "a spirit,. Python". The Python was. serpent destroyed, according to Greek Mythology, by Apollo, who was hence called Pythius, and the priestess...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _as we went to prayer_ Better, AS WE WERE GOING TO THE PLACE OF PRAYER, see on Acts 16:13. For though the Greek noun here is without the article it is clearly to be rendered as in the previous verse....

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    PREACHING ON THE SABBATH AT PHILIPPI. CONVERSION AND BAPTISM OF LYDIA. A SPIRIT OF DIVINATION CAST OUT BY ST PAUL. ANGER OF THOSE WHO MADE GAIN THEREBY. PAUL AND SILAS ARE SEIZED, BROUGHT BEFORE THE A...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΠΝΕΥ͂ΜΑ ΠΎΘΩΝΑ with אABCD. _Vulg_. ‘spiritum pythonem.’ 16. ΠΟΡΕΥΟΜΈΝΩΝ ἩΜΩ͂Ν ΕἸΣ ΤῊΝ ΠΡΟΣΕΥΧΉΝ, _as we were going to the place of prayer_ (see on Acts 16:13). This verse must refer to a different occ...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _THE CONVERSION OF THE JAILER IN PHILIPPI ACTS 16:16-40:_ At a place of prayer in Philippi Paul and Silas came across a girl that had a spirit of divination. Her masters made a lot of money from her p...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΈΓΈΝΕΤΟ _aor. ind. med. от_ ΓΊΝΟΜΑΙ (G1096) случаться, становиться. Об этом обороте _см._ Beyer, 45f. ΠΟΡΕΥΟΜΈΝΩΝ _praes. med. (dep.) part. (temp.), см._ Acts 16:7. _Gen. abs._ ΠΑΙΔΊΣΚΗ (G3814) рабы...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 1786 A SPIRIT OF DIVINATION CAST OUT 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 gai...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    AS WE WENT TO PRAYER,— Or, _To the oratory._ The manner in which St. Luke relates this history,plainly implies that he considered it as a real possession, and that St. Paul himself considered it in th...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    AT PHILLIPPI. Acts 16:12-40 a. A description of Philippi. Acts 16:12. Acts 16:12 and from thence to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the first of the district, a Roman colony: and we were in...

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    16-18. We are next introduced to an incident which led to a decided change in the fortunes of Paul and Silas. (16) "_And it came to pass, as we were going to prayer, there met us a certain female serv...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    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, AND WE WENT TO PRA...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    40 Silas was almost necessary as a companion for Paul. The decrees provided that they should be delivered by both Barnabas and Paul, while Judas and Silas were to confirm them by word of mouth. Now th...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    Journey into Europe, Philippi. 6. RV 'And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden of the Holy Ghost to speak the word in Asia.' At Lystra (Acts 16:6) they received a...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    ST. PAUL IN EUROPE 1. Timotheus] was probably of Lystra, not Derbe. His mother Eunice was perhaps a widow, and she, together with his grandmother Lois, educated the lad in the religion of Israel, tho...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYONE ACTS _MARION ADAMS_ CHAPTER 16 TIMOTHY WORKS WITH PAUL AND SILAS, 16:1-5 V1 Paul went to Derbe and then he went to Lystra. A *Christian called Timothy lived there. Timothy...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    AS WE WENT TO PRAYER. — Better, perhaps, _to the oratory,_ or _place of prayer._ (See Note on Acts 16:13.) It should be stated, however, that the Greek noun is used without the article, and that this...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    If we add the article τὴν, see critical note: “to the place of prayer,” R.V. πνεῦμα Πυθῶνος : in R.V., accusative, see critical note, “a spirit, a Python,” margin, _i.e._, a ventriloquist (Ramsay). Th...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    WELCOMED; ATTESTED; IMPRISONED Acts 16:14 This was an epoch-making moment, but how quietly it is recorded. There was no heralding of the gospel which was to transform Europe. The need for it was uns...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Here begins the account of Pads second journey. At Lystra he found Timothy. His action in the circumcision of Timothy is startling in view of the recent decision of the council. Some charge him with i...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    Paul and Silas Imprisoned Luke reported that the group went for prayer, possibly daily. A slave girl who was demon possessed followed them crying out, "These men are the servants of the Most High God,...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (10) And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of (f) divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: (10) Satan transforms himself in...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    A pythonical spirit. A spirit pretending to divination, to tell secrets, and things to come. See 2 Kings xxviii; Isaias viii. 19. (Witham) --- A divining spirit, which pretended to foretell things to...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    A fortune-telling female slave, who brought much money to her owners by her Satanic incantations, continues to follow these evangelists day by day, incessantly crying after them, _“These men are serva...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    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: (17) The same followed Paul and us, and cr...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We now enter on the missionary journeys, as they are called, of the apostle Paul. The work, under the Spirit, opens to the glory of the Lord. Not merely are Gentiles met in grace and brought into the...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    − 16.Luke prosecuteth the increase of the Church; for though he do not straightway in a word express that thing, yet is it easily gathered out of the text, that many were brought into the faith, or at...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    There is perhaps no example of this more remarkable than that which Paul does with regard to Timothy. He uses circumcision in all liberty to set aside Jewish prejudice. It is very doubtful whether, ac...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND IT CAME TO PASS AS WE WENT TO PRAYER,.... That is, to the house of prayer, or to the oratory, as they were in the way to it; for this is not to be understood of their just going to the act, or dut...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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: Ver. 16. _Possessed with a spirit, &c._]...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _As we went to prayer_ Or to the place of prayer, mentioned before; _a certain damsel met us_ (that is, met Paul and his three companions) _possessed with a spirit of divination_ Greek, εχουσαν πνευμα...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    TO PRAYER; the place of prayer. SPIRIT OF DIVINATION; an evil spirit, under the influence of which she professed to divine, that is to reveal things beyond the reach of human knowledge. SOOTHSAYING;...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The encounter with the spirit of divination:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    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;...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    Coming to Derbe and Lystra, where he and Barnabas had been persecuted before, Paul was favorably impressed with the young man, Timothy, who had evidently been converted through Paul on his first visit...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    NOW IT HAPPENED, AS WE WENT TO PRAYER, THAT A CERTAIN SLAVE GIRL POSSESSED WITH A SPIRIT OF DIVINATION MET US, WHO BROUGHT HER MASTERS MUCH PROFIT BY FORTUNE-TELLING. 1. As WE went to prayer - This i...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    OF DIVINATION: Or, of Python...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    "And it came to pass, as we were going to the place of prayer, that. certain maid having. spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by soothsaying"Going to the place of prayer" Ac...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    16-24 Satan, though the father of lies, will declare the most important truths, when he can thereby serve his purposes. But much mischief is done to the real servants of Christ, by unholy and false p...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    WENT TO PRAYER; went towards the place where their public prayers were usually made. OF DIVINATION; or, of Python, the name of Apollo, from the place where he was worshipped, (which was afterwards cal...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    16-18. We are next introduced to an incident which led to a decided change in the fortunes of Paul and Silas. (16) "_ And it came to pass, as we were going to prayer, there met us a certain female ser...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Irenaeus Against Heresies Book I It appears probable enough that this man possesses a demon as his familiar spirit, by means of whom he seems able to prophesy,[163] Tertullian De Spectaculis accord...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Acts 16:16 Now G1161 happened G1096 (G5633) we G2257 went G4198 (G5740) to G1519 prayer G4335 certain...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE MISSION TO EUROPE (16:6-19:20). Paul's plans now seemed to begin to go awry. All doors seemed to be closing to him as in one way or another he was first hindered from going one way, and then anoth...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    MINISTRY IN PHILIPPI FROM THE HOUSE OF LYDIA (16:12B-40). The arrival in Europe was clearly seen by Luke as very important. He illustrates the successful ministry there by a threefold description of P...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘And it came about that, as we were going to the place of prayer, a certain maid having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by the giving of oracles.' We may assume here t...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE HEALING OF THE GIRL POSSESSED WITH THE PYTHON SPIRIT (16:16-18). But Paul could not land in Europe in the power of the Holy Spirit without expecting opposition. Following Luke's usual necessary p...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Acts 16:16. AS WE WENT TO PRAYER. This should be rendered as in above verse, ‘to the place of prayer.' A CERTAIN DAMSEL POSSESSED WITH A SPIRIT OF DIVINATION MET US. This was a female slave possessed...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    A SPIRIT OF DIVINATION (πνευμα πυθωνα). So the correct text with accusative (apparition, a spirit, a python), not the genitive (πυθωνος). Hesychius defines it as δαιμονιον μανικον (a spirit of divin...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    SPIRIT (Greek, "pneuma", "a Python")....

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Acts 16:9. _And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us._ Our dreams often follow the leading thoughts of...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Paul finds Timothy. Paul's Macedonian vision. The first convert in Europe. Demons cast out of a damsel. Paul and Silas beaten. Conversion of the Philippian jailer. CHARACTERS: Jesus, Holy S...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Acts 16:1. _Then came he to Lystra,_ as in Acts 14:6. In their former labours in that city, Lois a jewess, her daughter Eunice, and Timothy her son, had embraced the faith. Now, they found Timothy gro...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    WE WERE MET BY A SLAVE GIRL. She was possessed by a demon, who gave her supernatural abilities. THESE MEN ARE SERVANTS. The demon knew who they were (James 2:19). Compare Mark 3:12; Luke 4:34-35. IN T...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _A certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination._ THE PYTHONESS The words, literally, are as in the margin, a spirit of Python, or, as some MSS. give it, a Python spirit. The Python was the s...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 16:16 A SPIRIT OF DIVINATION. A demonic spirit who gave information to the slave girl so that she could tell people secrets about their lives. FORTUNE-TELLING was forbidden in the OT...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 16:11 Philippi was the first Macedonian city in which Paul witnessed. ⇐ ⇔...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL REMARKS_ Acts 16:16. A CERTAIN DAMSEL POSSESSED WITH A SPIRIT OF DIVINATION.—Better, _a female slave_ (Galatians 4:22) _having the spirit of a pythoness_, or, according to superior authoriti...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ACTS 16:1 _And he came also _for _then came he, _A.V._ _and T.R.; _to Lystra _for _Lystra, _A.V._; Timothy _for _Timotheus, _A.V._; of a Jewess _for _of a certain woman which was a Jewess,...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    We remember at the end of our study last week there arose a contention between Paul and Barnabas who had been close companions on the first missionary venture of the church. But because Barnabas was i...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Chronicles 10:13; 1 Samuel 28:7; 1 Timothy 6:10; 2 Peter 2:3;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Damsel. See on ch. Acts 12:13. Spirit of divination [π ν ε υ μ α π υ θ ω ν α]. Lit., a spirit, a Python. Python, in the Greek mythology, was the serpent which guarded Delphi. According to the legend,...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    AS WE WENT TO PRAYER,. DAMSEL POSSESSED MET US. That is, As the apostles went towards the forementioned place of prayer,. damsel possessed with the devil, by whose inspiration she foretold future thin...

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