Acts 16:16

“¶ And it came to passe, as we went to prayer, a certaine Damosell possessed with a spirit of diuination, met vs: which brought her masters much gaine by soothsaying.”

1611 King James Version (KJV)




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Other Translations for Acts 16:16

And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
- King James Version

It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune-telling.
- New American Standard Version (1995)

And it came to pass, as we were going to the place of prayer, that a certain maid having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by soothsaying.
- American Standard Version (1901)

And when we were going to the place of prayer, we came across a girl with a spirit which gave knowledge of the future, whose masters made great profit from her power.
- Basic English Bible

And it came to pass as we were going to prayer that a certain female slave, having a spirit of Python, met us, who brought much profit to her masters by prophesying.
- Darby Bible

And it came to pass as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination, met us, who brought her masters much gain by sooth-saying:
- Webster's Bible

One day, as we were on our way to the place of prayer, a slave girl met us who claimed to be inspired and was accustomed to bring her owners large profits by telling fortunes.
- Weymouth Bible

It happened, as we were going to prayer, that a certain girl having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by fortune telling.
- World English Bible

And sche constreynede vs. And it was don, whanne we yeden to preier, that a damysel that hadde a spirit of diuynacioun, mette vs, which yaf greet wynnyng to her lordis in dyuynynge.
- Wycliffe Bible

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,
- Youngs Literal Bible

Commentary for Acts 16:16

People's Bible Notes for Acts 16:16


Ac 16:16 As we went to prayer. To the place of prayer. A certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination. Literally, "The spirit of a Pythoness". This meant, among the Greeks, a prophetic spirit, Pythias being one of the names of Apollo, the god of prophecy. The account shows (1) that the damsel was "possessed", (2) that her strange power gave her value in that it was superhuman, (3) that she was a slave, owned by several masters, and brought them "much gain by soothsaying". Luke does not say that she foretold the future, but the people thought she did. She was a demoniac. See PNT "Mt 8:29".

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