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border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad17.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/acts/16-16.htm" title="Acts 16:16">◄</a> Acts 16:17 <a href="/acts/16-18.htm" title="Acts 16:18">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/acts/16.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/acts/16.htm">New International Version</a> She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, &#8220These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.&#8221 <a href="/nlt/acts/16.htm">New Living Translation</a> She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved.” <a href="/esv/acts/16.htm">English Standard Version</a> She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” <a href="/bsb/acts/16.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!” <a href="/blb/acts/16.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Having followed Paul and us, she was crying out, saying, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation." <a href="/kjv/acts/16.htm">King James Bible</a> The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. <a href="/nkjv/acts/16.htm">New King James Version</a> This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” <a href="/nasb_/acts/16.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> She followed Paul and us and cried out repeatedly, saying, “These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you a way of salvation.” <a href="/nasb/acts/16.htm">NASB 1995</a> Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, &#8220These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/acts/16.htm">NASB 1977 </a> Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, “These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.” <a href="/lsb/acts/16.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, “These men are slaves of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.” <a href="/amp/acts/16.htm">Amplified Bible</a> She followed after Paul and us and kept screaming and shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God! They are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!” <a href="/csb/acts/16.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> As she followed Paul and us she cried out, “These men, who are proclaiming to you a way of salvation, are the servants of the Most High God.” <a href="/hcsb/acts/16.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> As she followed Paul and us she cried out, &#8220These men, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation, are the slaves of the Most High God.&#8221 <a href="/asv/acts/16.htm">American Standard Version</a> The same following after Paul and us cried out, saying, These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim unto you the way of salvation. <a href="/cev/acts/16.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> The girl followed Paul and the rest of us, and she kept yelling, "These men are servants of the Most High God! They are telling you how to be saved." <a href="/erv/acts/16.htm">English Revised Version</a> The same following after Paul and us cried out, saying, These men are servants of the Most High God, which proclaim unto you the way of salvation. <a href="/gwt/acts/16.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> She used to follow Paul and shout, "These men are servants of the Most High God. They're telling you how you can be saved." <a href="/gnt/acts/16.htm">Good News Translation</a> She followed Paul and us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God! They announce to you how you can be saved!" <a href="/isv/acts/16.htm">International Standard Version</a> She would follow Paul and us and shout, "These men are servants of the Most High God and are proclaiming to you a way of salvation!" <a href="/msb/acts/16.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, ?These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to us the way of salvation!? <a href="/net/acts/16.htm">NET Bible</a> She followed behind Paul and us and kept crying out, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation." <a href="/nheb/acts/16.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> She followed Paul and us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation." <a href="/wbt/acts/16.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, who show to us the way of salvation. <a href="/wey/acts/16.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> She kept following close behind Paul and the rest of us, crying aloud, "These men are the bondservants of the Most High God, and are proclaiming to you the way of salvation." <a href="/web/acts/16.htm">World English Bible</a> Following Paul and us, she cried out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us a way of salvation!” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/acts/16.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> she having followed Paul and us, was crying, saying, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who declare to us [the] way of salvation!” <a href="/blb/acts/16.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Having followed Paul and us, she was crying out, saying, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation." <a href="/ylt/acts/16.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> she having followed Paul and us, was crying, saying, 'These men are servants of the Most High God, who declare to us a way of salvation;' <a href="/slt/acts/16.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> She having followed Paul and us, cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, who announce to us the way of salvation.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/acts/16.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> This same following Paul and us, cried out, saying: These men are the servants of the most high God, who preach unto you the way of salvation. <a href="/cpdv/acts/16.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> This girl, following Paul and us, was crying out, saying: “These men are servants of the Most High God! They are announcing to you the way of salvation!” <a href="/nabre/acts/16.htm">New American Bible</a> She began to follow Paul and us, shouting, “These people are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation.” <a href="/nrsvce/acts/16.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, “These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation.”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/acts/16.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And she followed Paul and us, crying and saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, and they preach to you the way of salvation. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/acts/16.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> She was coming after Paulus and after us, crying and saying, “These men are Servants of the highest God, and they are evangelizing to you the way of life.”<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/acts/16.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> She followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying: These men are the servants of the most High God, who show us the way of salvation. <a href="/godbey/acts/16.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> She, following Paul and us, continued to cry out, saying, These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation. <a href="/haweis/acts/16.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> she following Paul and us, cried out, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, who preach to you the way of salvation. <a href="/mace/acts/16.htm">Mace New Testament</a> as she followed Paul and the rest of us, she cried out, these men are the servants of the most high God, who show you the way to salvation. <a href="/wey/acts/16.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> She kept following close behind Paul and the rest of us, crying aloud, "These men are the bondservants of the Most High God, and are proclaiming to you the way of salvation." <a href="/worrell/acts/16.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> The same, following after Paul and us, kept crying, saying, "These men are servants of the Most High God; who, indeed, declare to you a way of salvation." <a href="/worsley/acts/16.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> She following Paul and us, cried out, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, who shew us the way of salvation. <a href="/parallel/acts/16-17.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/in5WTRQ9BSQ?start=5335" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/acts/16.htm">Paul and Silas Imprisoned</a> 16One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of divination, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling. 17<a href="/greek/3778.htm" title="3778: hautē (DPro-NFS) -- This; he, she, it. ">This girl</a> <a href="/greek/2628.htm" title="2628: katakolouthousa (V-PPA-NFS) -- To follow after. From kata and akoloutheo; to accompany closely.">followed</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tō (Art-DMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/3972.htm" title="3972: Paulō (N-DMS) -- Paul, Paulus. Of Latin origin; Paulus, the name of a Roman and of an apostle.">Paul</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: hēmin (PPro-D1P) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.">the rest of us,</a> <a href="/greek/2896.htm" title="2896: ekrazen (V-IIA-3S) -- To cry aloud, shriek. A primary verb; properly, to croak or scream, i.e. to call aloud.">shouting,</a> <a href="/greek/3004.htm" title="3004: legousa (V-PPA-NFS) -- (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. "></a> <a href="/greek/3778.htm" title="3778: Houtoi (DPro-NMP) -- This; he, she, it. ">“These</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: hoi (Art-NMP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/444.htm" title="444: anthrōpoi (N-NMP) -- A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being.">men</a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: eisin (V-PIA-3P) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">are</a> <a href="/greek/1401.htm" title="1401: douloi (N-NMP) -- (a) (as adj.) enslaved, (b) (as noun) a (male) slave. From deo; a slave.">servants</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tou (Art-GMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">of the</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tou (Art-GMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/5310.htm" title="5310: Hypsistou (Adj-GMS-S) -- Highest, most high, the heights. Superlative from the base of hupsos; highest, i.e. the Supreme, or the heavens.">Most High</a> <a href="/greek/2316.htm" title="2316: Theou (N-GMS) -- A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.">God,</a> <a href="/greek/3748.htm" title="3748: hoitines (RelPro-NMP) -- Whosoever, whichsoever, whatsoever. ">who</a> <a href="/greek/2605.htm" title="2605: katangellousin (V-PIA-3P) -- To declare openly, proclaim, preach, laud, celebrate. From kata and the base of aggelos; to proclaim, promulgate.">are proclaiming</a> <a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: hymin (PPro-D2P) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.">to you</a> <a href="/greek/3598.htm" title="3598: hodon (N-AFS) -- A way, road, journey, path. Apparently a primary word; a road; by implication, a progress; figuratively, a mode or means.">the way</a> <a href="/greek/4991.htm" title="4991: sōtērias (N-GFS) -- Feminine of a derivative of soter as noun; rescue or safety.">of salvation!”</a> 18She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit left her at that very moment.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/acts/19-15.htm">Acts 19:15</a> But one day the evil spirit responded, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” <a href="/mark/1-24.htm">Mark 1:24</a> “What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” <a href="/luke/4-34.htm">Luke 4:34</a> “Ha! What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” <a href="/matthew/8-29.htm">Matthew 8:29</a> “What do You want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have You come here to torture us before the appointed time?” <a href="/james/2-19.htm">James 2:19</a> You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. <a href="/acts/2-22.htm">Acts 2:22</a> Men of Israel, listen to this message: Jesus of Nazareth was a man certified by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know. <a href="/acts/9-15.htm">Acts 9:15</a> “Go!” said the Lord. “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel. <a href="/acts/14-15.htm">Acts 14:15</a> “Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. <a href="/acts/22-14.htm">Acts 22:14-15</a> Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear His voice. / You will be His witness to everyone of what you have seen and heard. <a href="/john/6-69.htm">John 6:69</a> We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.” <a href="/john/17-3.htm">John 17:3</a> Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. <a href="/1_john/5-20.htm">1 John 5:20</a> And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. <a href="/romans/1-1.htm">Romans 1:1</a> Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, and set apart for the gospel of God— <a href="/2_corinthians/6-16.htm">2 Corinthians 6:16</a> What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.” <a href="/philippians/2-10.htm">Philippians 2:10-11</a> that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, / and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which show to us the way of salvation.These.<a href="/acts/19-13.htm">Acts 19:13</a> Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.<a href="/matthew/8-29.htm">Matthew 8:29</a> And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?<a href="/mark/1-24.htm">Mark 1:24</a> Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.the servants.<a href="/daniel/3-26.htm">Daniel 3:26,28</a> Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire… <a href="/daniel/6-16.htm">Daniel 6:16,20</a> Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee… <a href="/jonah/1-9.htm">Jonah 1:9</a> And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.the most.<a href="/genesis/14-18.htm">Genesis 14:18-22</a> And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God… <a href="/psalms/57-2.htm">Psalm 57:2</a> I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.<a href="/psalms/78-35.htm">Psalm 78:35</a> And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.the way.<a href="/acts/16-30.htm">Acts 16:30,31</a> And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? … <a href="/acts/18-26.htm">Acts 18:26</a> And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.<a href="/matthew/7-13.htm">Matthew 7:13,14</a> Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: … <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/acts/7-60.htm">Aloud</a> <a href="/acts/13-5.htm">Announce</a> <a href="/acts/2-18.htm">Bondmen</a> <a href="/acts/2-18.htm">Bondservants</a> <a href="/acts/4-29.htm">Bond-Servants</a> <a href="/acts/10-24.htm">Close</a> <a href="/acts/12-22.htm">Cried</a> <a href="/acts/14-14.htm">Crying</a> <a href="/acts/15-14.htm">Declare</a> <a href="/acts/13-43.htm">Followed</a> <a href="/acts/16-11.htm">Following</a> <a href="/acts/16-16.htm">Girl</a> <a href="/acts/16-2.htm">High</a> <a href="/acts/16-6.htm">Kept</a> <a href="/acts/16-10.htm">News</a> <a href="/acts/16-14.htm">Paul</a> <a href="/acts/16-10.htm">Proclaim</a> <a href="/acts/14-21.htm">Proclaiming</a> <a href="/acts/15-17.htm">Rest</a> <a href="/acts/15-11.htm">Salvation</a> <a href="/acts/10-7.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/acts/12-17.htm">Shew</a> <a href="/acts/14-23.htm">Show</a> <a href="/acts/16-16.htm">Telling</a> <a href="/acts/16-16.htm">Way</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/acts/20-37.htm">Aloud</a> <a href="/acts/16-21.htm">Announce</a> <a href="/romans/6-16.htm">Bondmen</a> <a href="/romans/6-16.htm">Bondservants</a> <a href="/2_corinthians/4-5.htm">Bond-Servants</a> <a href="/acts/18-7.htm">Close</a> <a href="/acts/16-28.htm">Cried</a> <a href="/acts/17-6.htm">Crying</a> <a href="/acts/17-23.htm">Declare</a> <a href="/acts/21-36.htm">Followed</a> <a href="/acts/17-2.htm">Following</a> <a href="/acts/16-19.htm">Girl</a> <a href="/acts/17-4.htm">High</a> <a href="/acts/16-18.htm">Kept</a> <a href="/acts/17-21.htm">News</a> <a href="/acts/16-18.htm">Paul</a> <a href="/acts/16-21.htm">Proclaim</a> <a href="/acts/16-21.htm">Proclaiming</a> <a href="/acts/17-9.htm">Rest</a> <a href="/acts/16-30.htm">Salvation</a> <a href="/romans/6-6.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/acts/24-27.htm">Shew</a> <a href="/acts/24-27.htm">Show</a> <a href="/acts/17-18.htm">Telling</a> <a href="/acts/16-36.htm">Way</a><div class="vheading2">Acts 16</div>1. <a href="/acts/16-1.htm">Paul and Silas are Joined by Timothy,</a> 7. <a href="/acts/16-7.htm">and being called by the Spirit from one country to another,</a> 14. <a href="/acts/16-14.htm">convert Lydia,</a> 16. <a href="/acts/16-16.htm">and cast out a spirit of divination;</a> 19. <a href="/acts/16-19.htm">for which cause they are whipped and imprisoned.</a> 25. <a href="/acts/16-25.htm">The prison doors are opened.</a> 31. <a href="/acts/16-31.htm">The jailor is converted,</a> 35. <a href="/acts/16-35.htm">and they are delivered.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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In the Greco-Roman world, such individuals were often exploited for financial gain. Her following Paul and his companions indicates the spiritual conflict present as the Gospel was being spread. The "rest of us" suggests the presence of Luke, the author of Acts, as part of the missionary team, highlighting the firsthand account of these events.shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God The term "Most High God" is significant as it was used by both Jews and Gentiles to refer to the supreme deity. In a polytheistic society, this acknowledgment by the spirit through the girl could be seen as an attempt to associate the apostles with the divine, yet it also reflects the spiritual recognition of God's authority. This phrase echoes the recognition of God's supremacy seen in other scriptures, such as <a href="/genesis/14-18.htm">Genesis 14:18-20</a> and <a href="/daniel/3-26.htm">Daniel 3:26</a>.who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!” The phrase "the way of salvation" is central to the Christian message. It underscores the purpose of Paul and his companions' mission: to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This proclamation aligns with Jesus' own words in <a href="/john/14-6.htm">John 14:6</a>, where He declares Himself as "the way, the truth, and the life." The spirit's declaration, though true, was likely intended to disrupt and distract, as seen in the subsequent actions of Paul in <a href="/acts/16-18.htm">Acts 16:18</a>. This highlights the spiritual warfare aspect of the early church's mission.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/p/paul.htm">Paul</a> A key apostle in the early Christian church, known for his missionary journeys and epistles. In <a href="/bsb/acts/16.htm">Acts 16</a>, he is on his second missionary journey. 2. <a href="/topical/s/silas.htm">Silas</a> A leader in the early church and companion of Paul on his missionary journeys. He is with Paul in Philippi during this event. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_slave_girl.htm">The Slave Girl</a> A young woman possessed by a spirit of divination, who earns money for her owners by fortune-telling. She follows Paul and his companions, proclaiming their divine mission. 4. <a href="/topical/p/philippi.htm">Philippi</a> A Roman colony in Macedonia where Paul and Silas are preaching. It is the setting for this event and the subsequent imprisonment of Paul and Silas. 5. <a href="/topical/t/the_spirit_of_divination.htm">The Spirit of Divination</a> The Greek term used here is (pneuma pyth?na), referring to a spirit associated with the oracle of Delphi, indicating a demonic influence.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/d/discernment_of_spirits.htm">Discernment of Spirits</a> Christians must be discerning about the sources of spiritual messages, recognizing that not all proclamations of truth come from Godly sources. <a href="/topical/a/authority_of_god's_servants.htm">Authority of God’s Servants</a> The acknowledgment by the spirit of divination underscores the authority given to God’s servants. Believers should walk confidently in their God-given authority. <a href="/topical/p/proclaiming_the_way_of_salvation.htm">Proclaiming the Way of Salvation</a> The message of salvation is central to the Christian mission. Believers are called to proclaim this message clearly and boldly, just as Paul and Silas did. <a href="/topical/s/spiritual_opposition.htm">Spiritual Opposition</a> Expect spiritual opposition when advancing God’s kingdom. The presence of the slave girl’s spirit highlights the reality of spiritual warfare. <a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_evangelism.htm">God’s Sovereignty in Evangelism</a> God can use unexpected circumstances and even opposition to further His purposes, as seen in the events following this proclamation.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_acts_16.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Acts 16</a> <a href="/q/what_happens_in_the_apocalypse_of_moses.htm">Have you obeyed the Gospel of God?</a> <a href="/q/is_it_credible_the_fortune_teller_knew_paul.htm">In Acts 16:16-18, how credible is it that an allegedly demon-possessed fortune teller instantly recognizes and announces Paul and Silas's divine mission?</a> <a href="/q/does_acts_16_31-34_contradict_individual_accountability.htm">In Acts 16:31-34, does the jailer's entire household receiving salvation contradict the principle of individual accountability taught elsewhere in Scripture?</a> <a href="/q/what_is_household_salvation_in_the_bible.htm">What does the Bible say about household salvation?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/acts/16.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(17) The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying.--Better, kept on crying. Assuming that the case now before us presented phenomena analogous to those of the cases of demoniac possession, we may refer to what has been said in the Excursus on that subject appended to St. Matthew's Gospel for general views of the question. Here it will be enough to note the same symptom of a divided consciousness. We lose much of the human interest of the narrative if we merely think of a demon bearing, as in mockery, his witness to the work of Christ, in order that he might thwart that work. That continual cry spoke, we may well believe, of the girl's mind as longing for deliverance, and peace, and calm. She sees in the preachers those whom she recognises as able to deliver her, as unlike as possible to the masters who traded on her maddened misery. And yet the thraldom in which she found herself led her to cries that simply impeded their work. We note, as characteristic, the recurrence of the name of the Most High God, which meets us from the lips of the demoniac in the Gospels. (See Note on <a href="/mark/5-7.htm" title="And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with you, Jesus, you Son of the most high God? I adjure you by God, that you torment me not.">Mark 5:7</a>.) As the name which was often in the mouths of exorcists, it became familiar to those who were regarded as subjects for their treatment. As she seems day by day to have gone to the river-side oratory, it is probable that she also had some points of contact with the faith of those who worshipped there, and had listened there to the preaching of the Apostles. Might not she claim a share in "the way of salvation" which was proclaimed to them?<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/acts/16.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 17. - Following after... cried out for followed... and cried, A.V.; servants for the servants, A.V.; proclaim unto you for show unto us, A.V. and T.R. This testimony of the spirit of divination to the doctrine of St. Paul is analogous to that of the unclean spirits who cried out to Jesus, "Thou art the Son of God" (<a href="/mark/1-23.htm">Mark 1:23-26</a>; <a href="/mark/3-11.htm">Mark 3:11</a>; <a href="/luke/4-34.htm">Luke 4:34, 35</a>); and St. Paul's dealing with the spirit of divination was similar to that of our Lord's with the evil spirits in the cases referred to. What was the motive of the damsel, or the spirit by which she was possessed, for so crying out, or St. Paul's for so silencing her, we are not told. Perhaps she interrupted him, and diverted the minds of those to whom he was preaching. And he did not like the mixture of lies with truth. The motive of secrecy which was one cause of our Lord's rebuke to the spirits would not apply in the case of St. Paul. <a href="/commentaries/acts/16-17.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>[This girl] αὕτη (hautē) Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3778.htm">Strong's 3778: </a> This; he, she, it. followed κατακολουθοῦσα (katakolouthousa) Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2628.htm">Strong's 2628: </a> To follow after. From kata and akoloutheo; to accompany closely. Paul Παύλῳ (Paulō) Noun - Dative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3972.htm">Strong's 3972: </a> Paul, Paulus. Of Latin origin; Paulus, the name of a Roman and of an apostle. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. [the rest of] us, ἡμῖν (hēmin) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1473.htm">Strong's 1473: </a> I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. shouting, ἔκραζεν (ekrazen) Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2896.htm">Strong's 2896: </a> To cry aloud, shriek. A primary verb; properly, to 'croak' or scream, i.e. to call aloud. “These Οὗτοι (Houtoi) Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3778.htm">Strong's 3778: </a> This; he, she, it. men ἄνθρωποι (anthrōpoi) Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_444.htm">Strong's 444: </a> A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being. are εἰσίν (eisin) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. servants δοῦλοι (douloi) Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1401.htm">Strong's 1401: </a> (a) (as adj.) enslaved, (b) (as noun) a (male) slave. From deo; a slave. of the τοῦ (tou) Article - Genitive Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. Most High Ὑψίστου (Hypsistou) Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular - Superlative <a href="/greek/strongs_5310.htm">Strong's 5310: </a> Highest, most high, the heights. Superlative from the base of hupsos; highest, i.e. the Supreme, or the heavens. God, Θεοῦ (Theou) Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2316.htm">Strong's 2316: </a> A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very. who οἵτινες (hoitines) Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3748.htm">Strong's 3748: </a> Whosoever, whichsoever, whatsoever. are proclaiming καταγγέλλουσιν (katangellousin) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2605.htm">Strong's 2605: </a> To declare openly, proclaim, preach, laud, celebrate. From kata and the base of aggelos; to proclaim, promulgate. to you ὑμῖν (hymin) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4771.htm">Strong's 4771: </a> You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. [the] way ὁδὸν (hodon) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3598.htm">Strong's 3598: </a> A way, road, journey, path. Apparently a primary word; a road; by implication, a progress; figuratively, a mode or means. of salvation.” σωτηρίας (sōtērias) Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4991.htm">Strong's 4991: </a> Feminine of a derivative of soter as noun; rescue or safety. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/acts/16-17.htm">Acts 16:17 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/acts/16-17.htm">Acts 16:17 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/acts/16-17.htm">Acts 16:17 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/acts/16-17.htm">Acts 16:17 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/acts/16-17.htm">Acts 16:17 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/acts/16-17.htm">Acts 16:17 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/acts/16-17.htm">Acts 16:17 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/acts/16-17.htm">Acts 16:17 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/acts/16-17.htm">Acts 16:17 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/acts/16-17.htm">Acts 16:17 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/acts/16-17.htm">NT Apostles: Acts 16:17 Following Paul and us she cried out (Acts of the Apostles Ac) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/acts/16-16.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Acts 16:16"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Acts 16:16" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/acts/16-18.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Acts 16:18"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Acts 16:18" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>