Acts 16:16

"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" Acts 16:13. The first visit had proven successful, with the conversion of Lydia and her household. "They are still using this spot by the riverside as. schoolroom to teach men about Christ" (Reese p. 580). "Having. spirit of divination" The phrase spirit of divination literally means "a spirit of python". "The reference is to the snake of classical mythology which guarded the temple of Apollo and the Delphic oracle on Mount Parnassus. Apollo was thought to be embodied in the snake and to inspire 'pythonesses', his female devotees, with clairvoyance" (Stott p. 264). "In the center of the temple at Delphi was. small opening in the ground from whence mind-bending fumes arose. The priestess breathed these, sat down and thence delivered the 'oracles'. Having breathed the fumes, the priestess became violently agitated, and spoke in. frenzied, ecstatic syllabication...A poet or priest standing by would then 'translate' what the Pythoness (priestess) had said" (Reese p. 580). We should first note that in giving such. label (spirit of python), Luke is not suggesting that the story concerning Apollo and the serpent is true, because only one God exists (Acts 17:23; 1 Corinthians 8:6). Rather, Luke is pointing out that this woman behaved in the same way that the priestess in Delphi would act, that is "presenting phenomena identical with the convulsive movements and wild cries of the Pythian priestess at Delphi" (Vincent p. 531). Luke could be saying, "If you ever saw the priestess in Delphi perform her trade--this woman acted in the same way." Luke may also be telling us that the people in Philippi attributed the powers in this girl to the same spirit that guided the priestess at Delphi."Brought her masters much gain" "She had fallen into the hands of unscrupulous men who used her misfortune for their great gain" (Barclay p. 134). Notice, that all the gain went to those who owned her. "Brought" Indicating. steady source of income. "By soothsaying" "An old heathen word for acting the seer" (Robertson p. 254). "Her involuntary utterances were regarded as the voice of. god, and she was much in demand by people who wished to have their fortunes told" (Bruce p. 332). The Greek word that Luke here uses for "soothsaying", is only found here in the N.T. In the Greek translation of the O.T., it is the word always used of lying prophets or of divination contrary to the Law (Deuteronomy 18:10; 1 Samuel 2:9; Ezekiel 2:6; Micah 3:11).