Acts 16:18Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Why did the demon say this, and why did Paul forbid him? The former acted maliciously, while the latter acted wisely. He wanted no trust to be placed in him. If Paul had accepted his testimony, then he, as one approved by him, would have deceived many, even of the believers. Therefore he resolved to proclaim their deeds in order to arrange his own affairs, and to use Paul’s condescension for the destruction of others. At first Paul merely did not accept it and paid no attention, for he did not wish immediately to resort to signs. But when he continued doing this for “many days” and touched upon their work, saying, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation,” then Paul commanded him “to come out.” What does “Paul, being greatly troubled” mean?

“Paul, being greatly troubled,” that is, being stirred and disturbed. By stopping her mouth, although she spoke the truth, he teaches us not to admit demons to ourselves, even if they pretend to defend the truth. Rather, we must cut off every occasion of temptation for them and listen to nothing they say. If Paul had paid attention to the testimony of this spirit, the latter would have deceived many of the believers. Therefore at first Paul merely did not accept his testimony, but rejected it, not wishing to increase the number of his signs. But when the spirit persisted, Paul commanded him to come out of the young woman. Thus the spirit acted treacherously, while Paul acted wisely.

For many days the maidservant spoke favorable things aloud in the street about the Apostle Paul and his companions. But Paul became indignant at her testimony. He did not wish to have a good report about himself from a person guided by another consciousness, or from someone mad or corrupt. He turned to the maidservant and said to the spirit: in the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her. And the spirit came out that very hour. This miraculous event with the soothsayer called forth, instead of gratitude and praise toward the apostle, the personal displeasure of her masters. Through them it also stirred up an ignorant crowd, which is usually subject to the voice of more influential people.

Not for one day only, but for many days that slave girl did this. That is, she cried out after the apostles, saying: “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation” (Acts 16:17). But Paul did not cast the demon out of her immediately at the beginning. This was both because he foresaw the snares of that evil spirit, which he intended to carry out against him and the other apostles then with him as soon as he was cast out of the slave girl. It was also so that Paul would not appear to seek praise from men for the miracles performed by him.

A certain maidservant had within herself a spirit of darkness, through which she foretold the future and revealed hidden things. Following the apostles, she said in the hearing of the people: behold, servants of God; they preach to you the way of salvation. It is not known what moved her to do this, or rather, the spirit that dwelt in her. Was he afraid of being cast out of the soothsayer, and therefore wished beforehand to dispose Paul favorably toward her? Or did he think it improper to be silent about such men, as a spirit to whom they had to be known? In any case, he repeated such statements many times, although by this he seemed to harm himself. But the apostles were as far from accepting such testimony in their favor as the Savior was.

The work of Gospel preaching began successfully here. A wealthy woman named Lydia soon turned to faith in Christ and offered the preachers her house as a place to stay. But the expulsion of a divining spirit from a servant girl brought upon Paul and Silas the hatred of her masters, who profited from her divinations. They seized the preacher-wonderworkers and dragged them to the marketplace before the authorities. The authorities gave them many blows and, without trial, threw them into prison (verses 13-23).

This continued for several days. Since she was hindering the preaching, the Apostle Paul cast the spirit out of her in the name of Jesus Christ. She was healed and ceased to divine.

However it was, Paul became indignant, and so forth. Just as the Lord Himself did not accept the confession of demons (Mk 1:24 and following; Mk 3:11 and parallels), so Paul also did not accept this confession. He did not want the Gospel preaching to have support from the enemy of God and men. Therefore he became indignant and, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, immediately cast out the demon. His God-enlightened gaze had recognized that demon in the words of the divining woman.

The repeated, unsolicited, and worthless testimony of the soothsayer concerning the apostles was the immediate cause of the expulsion from her of the spirit of malice. He was plainly showing that he wished to do something evil to the apostles under the guise of praise, as is so usual in all deceptions. But what obedience the demon showed when, firmly and decisively, he was commanded in the person of Jesus Christ to be silent! “Even the demons are subject to us” (Lk 10:17), the apostles had said earlier to Jesus Christ Himself. The same is seen here. At the same time, this also reveals what else unclean demons use most to seduce people, namely avarice. “Love of gain everywhere causes evil.