And it happened that as we were going to the place of prayer,
a certain slave girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was
bringing her owners much profit by fortune-telling.
Acts 16:16
One day as Paul and his team were going to the place of prayer, they encountered a slave girl with a spirit of divination.
In other words, she was demon-possessed and could tell the future.
Her owners profited from her ability. They didn’t care about her as a person but only what she could do for them.
One day, she started following Paul and his group. She kept shouting that these men were servants of the Most High God and had come to tell others how to be saved.
What the slave girl said was true. So why did Paul cast the demon out of her? Why wasn’t he happy that she was on his side and speaking the truth?
Let’s consider three reasons.
Table of Contents
Why Did Paul Cast Out the Demon of the Slave Girl?
The Bible doesn’t give any specific reason why Paul cast the demon out of the slave girl other than he was annoyed after many days. However, there are other reasons to consider. It could be because Paul didn’t want anyone to mistakenly think they were working together. Nor did he want the gospel of Christ to be damaged by being associated with her. For example, since the culture was polytheistic, the people may have thought she was declaring the gospel was a way to be saved rather than the way. Or she might have been speaking sarcastically. It may have been similar to how some ridiculed Jesus on the cross, saying things like, “Hail King of the Jews.”
Paul Didn’t Want the Gospel to Be Damaged
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.” (Acts 16:17)
The slave girl had a spirit of divination, which wasn’t from God. Others may have recognized her prophetic ability. And though she was telling the truth, it was confusing, to say the least.
She seemed to endorse the men she was following but was that really what was happening?
It wasn’t her, but the spirit that possessed her who was saying these things. She was demon-possessed. And the demon was not on the side of the gospel of Jesus Christ being the only way to God.
Demons know the truth about who Jesus is. However, we know from other passages that Jesus cast demons out and some of them said He was the “Holy One of God,” “Son of God,” or “Son of the Most High God” (Mark 1:24; 3:11; 5:7-12).
We do not know exactly why the demons spoke the truth. Maybe they couldn’t help it, or perhaps they had an ulterior motive. For whatever reason, Jesus nor Paul condoned it.
What are your thoughts?
The Slave Girl May Have Been Sarcastic
If someone knows you as an outspoken Christian, they might sarcastically say when they see you, something like, “Here comes the preacher girl. She’s going to tell you how to get saved.”
They don’t believe your message but know what you stand for. And they want to make fun of you.
All we know for sure is that the slave girl was loud, constant, and distracting. But it’s possible she was sarcastic too.
But remember, it wasn’t her speaking; it was the demon.
Jesus was mocked by people.
The soldiers dressed him in a purple robe, made a crown of thorns, and placed it on His head. They hit Him with sticks, spit on Him, and got down on their knees, pretending to pay homage to Him. And they said, “Hail, king of the Jews!” (Mark 15:16-19)
The chief priests and scribes mocked Jesus on the cross, saying, “He saved others, but He can’t save Himself. Let this Christ, the king of Israel come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” (Mark 15:31-32)
When I read what she said, it doesn’t sound like sarcasm was at play. However, it is a possibility.
What do you think?
Paul Waited and Became Annoyed
And she continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out at that very moment. (Acts 16:18)
Why did Paul wait so long?
Well, the text doesn’t say. Maybe Paul was initially exercising patience or possibly waiting for God’s timing.
One view says that Paul didn’t have all the information he needed. He first had to know if she was speaking on her own or needed deliverance. But once he realized she was a seer, he was annoyed and promptly expelled the demon.
These are all good thoughts but also speculation. Scripture only says he waited many days before getting annoyed and casting the demon out.
I don’t want you to miss that Paul used his apostolic authority to deliver the girl from demon possession. He did it in the name of Jesus Christ, showing that Jesus was superior to demonic powers. It was His power that freed her.
What Happened to the Slave Girl Afterward?
But when her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities (Acts 16:19).
Some have speculated that the slave girl was converted after she got free.
The Moody Bible Commentary says (p. 1709):
She was delivered from the demonization, but her conversion was implied though not explicitly mentioned in the text.
All we know for sure is:
- She was freed from the demon
- She lost her fortune-telling ability
- Her owners were mad because they could no longer profit from her
The text moves from the slave girl to the owners’ anger at what Paul had done. I don’t see where it implies the slave girl was converted and became a child of God. Though I like the thought.
What do you see?
Paul did see conversions while he was in Philippi, though. First was Lydia and her family, and later, the jailer and his family.
The song below explains what the slave girl or anyone else must believe in order to be saved.
RELATED > > > > > Who Was the First Convert in Philippi? – At the River
We Believe by Newsboys
Final Thoughts
Why did Paul cast the demon out of the slave girl?
Ultimately, we only know what the Bible tells us. Paul cast out the demon because he was greatly annoyed after she continued to follow them around for many days. She kept shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, and have come to tell you how to be saved.”
There is speculation as to why he would cast out the spirit if it was telling the truth.
Some say the demon wasn’t telling the truth and, instead, was saying Paul’s gospel was only one of many ways to be saved.
Others think the mere association with the demon-possessed girl was damaging to the message.
Another thought is the spirit through the girl was mocking Paul and the others. The constant shouting interfered with what Paul was doing, and it got to be too much.
We know from other Scriptures that Jesus cast out demons even when they seemingly spoke the truth about Jesus.
Do you think it’s important that we know why Paul cast out the demon of the slave girl beyond what Scripture says?
Why or why not?