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.
Read it in contextDeliverance leads to imprisonment
Start reading at Acts 16:16 (Acts 16:16 to Acts 16:24).
An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
A girl's deliverance removes her masters' income, leading to public accusation, beating, and imprisonment of Paul and Silas.
16:16And 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:
16:17The 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.
16:18And 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.
16:19And 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,
16:20And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
16:21And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
16:22And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
16:23And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
16:24Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
Study content, not yet reviewed.
Who
Who wrote the book? Luke, the physician and companion of Paul, is the traditional author of Acts and the Gospel of Luke. Biblical references: Acts 1:1; Luke 1:3; Colossians 4:14. Historical source: Anchor Bible Dictionary, Luke–Acts. traditionally held
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Acts 16:1–16:40): Paul and his companions, including Timothy and then the first-person narrator, travel to Macedonia. Lydia's household, a possessed slave girl, officials, and the Philippian jailer's household feature in Philippi. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? Theophilus, the same named recipient as Luke's Gospel, with the account also serving the wider Christian readership. Biblical references: Acts 1:1; Luke 1:3. stated in the text
What
What is the topic of this reading unit? Deliverance leads to imprisonment. Read Acts 16:16 through Acts 16:24 as a connected unit. interpretation
How does it contribute to the book? A girl's deliverance removes her masters' income, leading to public accusation, beating, and imprisonment of Paul and Silas. interpretation
When
When are the events or message set? Acts begins after Jesus' resurrection and follows the witness through Pentecost, expansion among peoples, and Paul's arrival in Rome. It does not give a final publication date. book background
Where
What is the book’s geographic setting? The movement extends from Jerusalem through Judea and Samaria toward wider regions and Rome, as announced in Acts 1:8. book background
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in Deliverance leads to imprisonment (Acts 16:16 to Acts 16:24).
Start reading at Acts 16:16. An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
How
How does this book connect with Jesus Christ? The risen Jesus commissions the witnesses, and their preaching centers on Him. The accounts include repentance, baptism in Jesus' name, and reception of the Holy Ghost; keep the details and order stated for each event. See Acts 1:8, Acts 2:38, Acts 10:44, Acts 10:48, Acts 19:5, Acts 19:6. interpretation
How should this book guide our response? Compare conversion accounts carefully, preserving what each one actually narrates. Do not invent an omitted detail or flatten every episode into an identical sequence. interpretation
What Scripture saysThe book opens by referring to the author's former treatise to Theophilus, tying it to Luke, and shifts into first-person plural in the travel accounts. Acts 1:1Acts 16:10
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Time covered by Acts
About 30 years
AD 30 or 33Approximate beginning · Acts 1
The risen Jesus instructs His apostles
Acts begins after Jesus’ resurrection and describes His ascension.
About AD 62Approximate ending · Acts 28
Paul teaches while confined in Rome
The account closes with Paul receiving visitors and teaching during two full years in his rented lodging.
The narrative moves from Jerusalem to Rome over roughly three decades. Chapters do not represent equal amounts of time.
View historical notes and sources
Using a beginning in AD 30 or 33 and an ending around AD 62 gives approximately 29–32 years. These are reconstructed dates for the events, not a date for the writing of Acts. The book does not explicitly total its elapsed years.
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Acts 16
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Acts addresses Theophilus as a continuation of the earlier account and follows the witnesses empowered by the Holy Ghost. Acts 1:8 supplies an important geographical frame: Jerusalem, Judaea and Samaria, and the uttermost part of the earth.
Connection to the wholeThe churches are strengthened while the Spirit's direction and the Macedonian vision turn the team's journey toward a new field.
Connection to the wholeThe prison events lead the jailer to ask about salvation; the word is spoken to his household and baptism follows before the missionaries' departure.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Acts
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Acts addresses Theophilus as a continuation of the earlier account and follows the witnesses empowered by the Holy Ghost. Acts 1:8 supplies an important geographical frame: Jerusalem, Judaea and Samaria, and the uttermost part of the earth.
Connection to the wholeJesus' promise, the coming of the Holy Ghost, Peter's preaching, and the hearers' response establish the beginning of the church's witness.
Connection to the wholePersecution scatters believers; new fields open, Saul is called, and the reception of Gentiles becomes a matter publicly explained to the church.
Connection to the wholeThe first missionary journey and the Jerusalem deliberation address the place of Gentile believers without making circumcision the entrance requirement.
Connection to the wholePaul and his companions travel through new regions and revisit churches, moving toward the journey to Jerusalem despite coming danger.
Connection to the wholePaul's custody becomes a setting for witness before authorities and brings him to Rome, where the account closes with continued proclamation.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.