Lesson 4669

 (Lesson 4669)(11-15-24) Acts 16:16-24 

   “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: 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. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.” 

 

   In today’s quote, Paul and Silas encounter a slave girl in Philippi who was possessed by a spirit that enabled her to predict the future. Her owners profited from her fortune-telling. The girl followed Paul, shouting that they are servants of God proclaiming salvation. After many days, Paul became annoyed and commanded the spirit to leave her, which it did immediately. Her owners, angry over their loss of income, drug Paul and Silas before the authorities, and accused them of causing trouble among the people. The magistrates had them beaten and imprisoned, placing their feet in stocks. ~