divination
- Venus Jackson
- Mar 24
- 4 min read
Acts 16:16-40
Paul and Silas went through a lot in this story starting with a small seemingly insignificant act: silencing a female slave.
The female slave could predict the future and was shouting 'truth'. “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” v17 This should have been great news to anyone who would listen and maybe it was but imagine the confusion the female slave could have been causing.
Paul and Silas were out to speak truth. The owners of the female slave were out to make money. What better way to make money than to connect their female slave, who could predict the future, to Paul and Silas, whose message was so powerful that they were starting churches.
Unfortunately, hanging around Paul and Silas may have given outsiders the appearance that Paul and Silas' message was linked to the divination power of the female slave. It was an easy way to make money since Paul and Silas were talking to people who were desperately seeking joy and peace. Those desperate people may have also been willing to spend a little extra cash on seeking out the slave so they could see what their future holds.
Unfortunately, the spirit of divination that the slave woman was using was not of God and Paul knew it. That is why he silenced her. And when he did, he cut off the income of the slave owners.
And so in irony, the slave owners had Paul and Silas arrested for doing the very thing that was helping them make money. As long as the slave owners could make money off of Paul and Silas, their preaching was acceptable. But as soon as the slave owners' money was disrupted, they turned on Paul and Silas.
Not only were the two men publicly stripped and beaten with rods, they were put into the inner jail used for the worst of criminals where their hands and feet were put in chains.
All because they silenced a rogue spirit.
Despite how horrible, uncomfortable, unfair and frustrating this situation was, it did not stop these men from preaching the gospel. Paul may have silenced that divination spirit with a rebuke but the city officials could not silence God's Word from going forth even after beating His messengers down.
In fact, the enduring attitude of God's messengers offered Him a way to get His message to what was considered the most evil of people. In a parallel way, just as Jesus' death was a way for Jesus to speak to the people in hell, Paul and Silas being thrown into the innermost prison was a way for Jesus' message to reach the most hopeless of people.
And to show how bold these men were, they refused to go on their merry way after the prison released them.
These men had been beaten, chained, probably starved and publicly humiliated and yet instead of fleeing the jail as soon as they were released, they actually made a stink about being wrongly imprisoned! To the point that the magistrate (who in Rome was the 'highest ranking government officers, and possessed both judicial and executive powers') personally escorted them from the prison, requesting they leave the city. v. 38-39.
The boldness of God's people!
What can we get from this? Awareness of who is connecting to us is important. I am sure that Paul could have silenced the slave sooner but maybe she was a benefit to them for a time or maybe he understood what was going to happen to them if he rebuked her sooner. Either way Paul had to stop her because she was becoming more of a hinderance than a help.
Constant prayer about the relationships around us can reveal negative influences even if that relationship seems to initally start out as beneficial.
this
week....
Comparing ourselves to others.
Discussion Summary and Comments
We had a great discussion about what Paul and Silas went through and how they ended up singing even when they were in the worst of conditions.
The prisoners stayed even after they had a chance at freedom as a result of Paul and Silas' preaching which opened up an opportunity for the prison guard to hear the gospel.
We imagined ourselves in their position and how we may react. Hopefully we would have been as faithful.
We also discussed the power of prayer and being armored as described in Ephesians 6
Announcements
UPDATE Athens Feeds My Starving Children Mobile Pack.
5 people have confirmed. I have signed us up for 10 slots. Please let me know if you plan to go to ensure that I have enough slots or if I need to let some slots go.
6 have confirmed their attendance! :-)
Friday April 25, 2025 7pm - 9pm
Ladies with Lattes and other great Cornerstone Events!
Are you ready for some kickball?
Barrow County is hosting an adult kickball league. If interested you can pay a fee to sign up a team. It appears that winners of the league will take home monetary prices. For all you savvy entrepreneur-minded people, you can also sign up as a vendor.
Wanna Be Famous?
This is your opportunity! I would like to make a member's page. Send me a picture and a short introduction of yourself. Let us know your healthy goals for the year.
Comments