To prayer] rather, 'to the place of prayer.'

A spirit of divination] The girl belonged to the class of 'clairvoyants' or 'mediums,' and really believed herself to be possessed by a spirit. Her recognition of the divine mission of St. Paul indicates a considerable degree of spiritual discernment. The expulsion of the 'spirit' need not have been a miracle. The girl recognised in St. Paul a minister of 'the supreme God,' supreme, therefore, over the spirit which possessed her. Hence the command to the spirit to come forth was (in her belief) authoritative, and consequently effectual.

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