She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortunetelling. If they already have realized gods power and are walking in his authority like paul was in acts 16. Bible q in what sense did the slave girl of acts 16. In the book of acts, paul and silas were thrown in jail because they cast out the spirit of python. The greek term for divination in this verse is pythona.
Python, in the greek mythology, was the serpent which guarded delphi. She had earned great profits for her owners by being a fortuneteller. One of the main lessons of the book of acts is that the expansion of the early church was due to the working of the holy spirit. Luke addresses both his gospel and book of acts to the same person. Can a demonic spirit really have the power of divination. One day, while on their way to this location, paul and companions were met by a slave girl who had a lit. But at midnight paul and silas were praying and singing hymns to god, and the prisoners were listening to them.
Paul and the slave girl in philippi biblical archaeology. Luke is describing demon possession in the common parlance. Python is a deadly spirit capable of causing physical harm when confronted. The python was the serpent or dragon that guarded the delphic oracle at mt. Spirit of python promoted paul in acts 16 jesus words only. What the python spirit really wants charisma magazine. Click here to download a free chapter of jennifers new book, satans. Acts 16 new king james version nkjv timothy joins paul and silas. The greek calls it a pneuma of python or python spirit. Why does paul get annoyed with the slave girl in acts 16. An individual often a young virgin who became the oracle of apollo was known as the python, or pythia. As we went to prayer or to the place of prayer, mentioned before. Paul and the slave girl in philippi biblical archaeology society. He was directing, moving, and empowering the apostles as they.
Acts 16 nkjv timothy joins paul and silas bible gateway. This title, it is generally said, was given to apollo, on account of his having destroyed a monstrous serpent that. This chapter has the continuation of the second missionary tour, relating the revisiting of lystra and derbe acts 16. The greek here is pneuma pythona, or a pythian spirit. One of the only named spirits in the bible, the python spirit is a coiling spirit. But paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, i command thee in the name of jesus christ to come out of her. In acts 16, paul is preaching at philippi, and is heard by a demon possessed. When paul and silas dealt with this spirit in acts 16, the result was that they were arrested and beaten until their backs were full of stripes and much bleeding from them before they were next cast into jail. Python spirits sermon by chika ossaiugbah, acts 16. In greek paganism, python was said to be a serpent that lives in delphi in what is southern greece today and that was said to have the power of divination.
His manifestations may be weariness, fatigue, confusion and frustration. Acts 16, new international version niv the bible app. Now, in our study of this marvelous history called the book of acts, written by the holy spirit to give us the information regarding the growth of the church from its birth until it reached rome, we find that we are in the 16th chapter and the gospel has just reached europe. In classical mythology, the python was the snake apollo killed when he took over the delphic shrine. However, the greek word from which divination is translated is python python was a word associated with prophecy amongst the ancient greeks and romans. Understanding the spirit of python by phyllis ford. When the man of prayer started heading for the house of prayer, this spirit launched its first. Just like the snake, the spirit of python gets around its victim, which can be a person, family, church or area, and he slowly squeezes the life out of them. Taking the account in acts 16 and the locals mythological term for the demon inhabiting the fortuneteller, some extrapolate that there is a specific demonic entitythe python spirit or the spirit of pythonthat oppresses people by interfering with the communication of the holy spirit and thwarting prayer. It rules and operates from the water and is therefore a water spirit, and also has a kingdom for itself under the waters. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit. In acts 14, wherever paul went to evangelize with barnabas, paul was the chief speaker. Python spirit tries to destroy this redemptive purpose.
Some thoughts on the book of acts and pauline theology. Luke, the author of the book of acts, wanted to convey both the kind of spirit that possessed the woman and the way spirits work to possess people. A powerful companion to jentezen franklins the spirit of python book, this 30day devotional will open your eyes to the unseen spiritual battle taking place around you every day, and equip you to break the spirit of python off of your life in acts 16, paul and silas are confronted with a woman who was possessed with a spirit. Taking the account in acts 16 and the locals mythological term for the demon inhabiting the fortuneteller, some extrapolate that there is a specific. And it came to pass as we went to prayer that is, to the house of prayer, or to the oratory, as they were in the way to it. Our story starts off where the gospel of luke left offjesus is back now that hes resurrected, jesus decides to hang out and chat with his disciples whom luke calls apostles for forty days. However, the greek word from which divination is translated is python. What did the slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination acts 16.
The bible identifies the name of that spirit as the. Acts 16 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on. The python spirit 16 one day, as we were going to the house of prayer, we encountered a young slave girl who had an evil spirit of divination, the spirit of python. Government authority especially true apostolic or city government four faces of python work closely together. Let there be revelation of this counterfeit spirit wherever the spirit of python is at work. The prayerhating python spirit drew attention to paul and silas in a hostile land, distracted them from their apostolic mission, and ultimately persecuted them sorely, even putting them in literal bondage. Let people have discernment to recognize this spirit. When you pray to possess the land for god, the spirit of divination python begins to fight against you. Suddenly there was a great earthquake and everyones chains were loosedacts 16. Acts 16, the passion translation tpt the bible app.
And behold, a certain disciple was there, named timothy, the son of a certain jewish woman who believed, but his father was greek. The origin of the greek word is rooted in greek mythology, which includes the story of apollo slaying a serpent or dragon. Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. In acts 16, paul is preaching at philippi, and is heard by a demon possessed woman known as python. And it came to pass in our going on to prayer, a certain maid, having a spirit of python, did meet us, who brought much employment to her masters by soothsaying, top acts 16. Pauls casting out in the name of jesus the spirit of python from the young girl. I know that there are others out there that just cant seem to make the connection between the story in acts 16 and this teaching on the spirit of python, but they are unwilling to go against the flow and speak out. She was popular at philippi as a soothsayer whom people paid for prophecies. The word divination in this verse comes from the greek word for puthon, which translates in english. Let the power of witchcraft and the spirit of infirmity be broken now, in jesus name. This spirit works today just as it did against paul in acts 16. The new world translation of the holy scriptures is published by jehovahs witnesses. According to the legend, as related in the homeric hymn, apollo.
Those who believe in a python spirit point to acts 16. Ive experienced that more than once in my lifetime. Python was the name of the mythical snake or dragon that guarded the temple and oracle of. She had earned great profits for her owners by being a fortuneteller17 she kept following us, shouting, these men are servants of the great high god, and theyre telling us how. Luke actually writes that the slave girl had a python because of her. Spirit of divination the spirit of python of delphi.
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