ACC ~ Acts 16 v16 - 18

OVERVIEW:

Modern commentators explain Paul’s actions here as Luke’s way of showing the triumph of the faith over pagan ways in that even through a pagan medium, a demonic voice in the world of humankind, comes the profession that salvation comes from the most high God of Christianity. The Fathers see parallels to Christ’s ministry before his passion. Just as Christ was proclaimed by demons, so is the truth of Paul’s testimony. Paul also shows that those who believe in Christ are more powerful than demons by releasing the girl from its power (AMMONIUS). Also as Christ did, Paul does not accept witness from demons (ORIGEN). The true witness to Paul and his companions comes from the presence of the Spirit that forces the demon to give true witness, while Paul is unwilling to accept what is true from a deceptive source (BEDE). Had he done so, he would have contradicted his message that proclaimed freedom from such things (CHRYSOSTOM).

16:16 | A Spirit of Divination

HOW POWERFUL THE WORDS OF CHRIST’S SERVANTS. AMMONIUS: It should be noted that Christ was announced through demons, in which the Gentiles were believing. It was also these that gave witness and said that the apostles were servants of God, that their preaching was saving and that Jesus was God and not a mere man. That was the proclamation of the ones concerning Paul and Silas. … After the demon had repeatedly testified that the message of the apostles was saving, Paul ordered him to come out in order to demonstrate to those who believed him, that every believer was stronger than the demon, and to show that each had power both to allow the demon to stay as one subject to the believer and to release him. See how powerful the words of the servants of Christ were: as soon as they gave a command, the demons came out. CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 16.17.

16:17 | Servants of the Most High God

AS JESUS DID. ORIGEN: Jesus our Lord does not accept witness from demons, as he said, “Be silent and come out of him.” So, in imitation of him, his apostle Paul “grieving” it says, “turned and addressed the spirit of Python, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ, depart from her.’” Perhaps you may ask why Paul is grieving when he rebukes the spirit of Python. It had spoken no blasphemy, had it, for it says, “A woman with the spirit of Python was following Paul and his companions and kept shouting, ‘These men are servants of God the most high, and they proclaim to you the way of salvation.’ And she kept doing this for many days.” It is clear that Paul was not grieving because of blasphemy but because he considered testimony given by the spirit of Python unworthy of his message. HOMILIES ON NUMBERS 16.7.10.

COMPELLED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, SHE SPOKE. BEDE: That confession is not voluntary that is followed by a reward for confessing, but under the compulsion of fear of the Holy Spirit, the deceitful spirit spoke the truth, not daring any longer to hide its darkness in the presence of the light. “But to the sinner God says, ‘Why do you recite my judgments?’” As Arator says, “If she who was a servant of falsehood prophesies what is true, let us not be corrupted by the bitter honey of deceit.” COMMENTARY ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 16.17.

16:18 | In the Name of Jesus Christ

PAUL’S WISDOM IN REBUKING THE DEMON. CHRYSOSTOM: Why did the demon utter these words, and why did Paul forbid him? The one acted maliciously, the other wisely. For [Paul] did not want to make him believable. If Paul had admitted his testimony, the demon would have deceived many of the believers, since he was accepted by Paul. For this reason he allows him to say things against them, in order to establish things for him, and the demon uses agreement for the purpose of destruction. At first then, Paul did not admit him but spat upon him, not wishing to cast himself entirely upon miracles. But when the demon continued to do this for many days and pointed to their work, “These men are servants of the most high God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation,” he commanded it to come out. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 35.

SILENCING FALSE PREACHERS OF THE TRUTH. CHRYSOSTOM: In imitation of his teacher; for so too did Christ rebuke. For he did not wish to have testimony from them. And why did the demon do this? Because he wanted to confound the order of things, to snatch away the apostles’ dignity and to persuade many to pay attention to him. If that had happened, they would have appeared trustworthy from then on and introduced their own designs. To prevent this and to forestall deceit, [Paul] silences them even though they speak the truth, so that no one should pay any attention to their lies but stop listening altogether to what they say. HOMILIES ON 1 CORINTHIANS 29.3.