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Selected Verse: Acts 16:17 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ac 16:17	Strong Concordance	The same [3778] followed [2628] Paul [3972] and [2532] us [2254], and cried [2896], saying [3004], These [3778] men [444] are [1526] the servants [1401] of the most high [5310] God [2316], which [3748] shew [2605] unto us [2254] the way [3598] of salvation [4991].
	King James	The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
These men are servants of the most high God, &c.--Glorious testimony! But see on Luk 4:41. this did she many days--that is, on many successive occasions when on their way to their usual place of meeting, or when engaged in religious services.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

These men are servants of the most high God, &c.--Glorious testimony! But see on Luk 4:41.

this did she many days--that is, on many successive occasions when on their way to their usual place of meeting, or when engaged in religious services.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
The same followed Paul ... - Why she did this, or under what presence, the sacred writer has not informed us. It may have been: (1) That as she prophesied for gain, she supposed that Paul and Silas would reward her if she publicly proclaimed that they were the servants of God. Or, (2) Because she was conscious that an evil spirit possessed her, and she feared that Paul and Silas would expel that spirit, and by proclaiming them to be the servants of God she hoped to conciliate their favor. Or, (3) More probably it was because she saw evident tokens of their being sent from God, and that their doctrine would prevail; and by proclaiming this she hoped to acquire more authority, and a higher reputation for being herself inspired. Compare Mar 5:7.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

The same followed Paul ... - Why she did this, or under what presence, the sacred writer has not informed us. It may have been:

(1) That as she prophesied for gain, she supposed that Paul and Silas would reward her if she publicly proclaimed that they were the servants of God. Or,

(2) Because she was conscious that an evil spirit possessed her, and she feared that Paul and Silas would expel that spirit, and by proclaiming them to be the servants of God she hoped to conciliate their favor. Or,

(3) More probably it was because she saw evident tokens of their being sent from God, and that their doctrine would prevail; and by proclaiming this she hoped to acquire more authority, and a higher reputation for being herself inspired. Compare Mar 5:7.

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
most high God (See Scofield) - (Mat 7:22). This marks the "spirit", (Act 16:18); as being a demon. salvation See note, (See Scofield) - (Rom 1:16).

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]

most high God

(See Scofield) - (Mat 7:22).

This marks the "spirit", (Act 16:18); as being a demon.

salvation

See note, (See Scofield) - (Rom 1:16).

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
These men are - A great truth: but St. Paul did not need, nor would accept, of such testimony.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]

These men are - A great truth: but St. Paul did not need, nor would accept, of such testimony.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
These men are the servants, etc. - It is astonishing how such a testimony could be given in such a case; every syllable of it true, and at the same time full, clear, and distinct. But mark the deep design and artifice of this evil spirit: 1. He well knew that the Jewish law abhorred all magic, incantations, magical rites, and dealings with familiar spirits; he therefore bears what was in itself a true testimony to the apostles, that by it he may destroy their credit, and ruin their usefulness. The Jews, by this testimony, would be led at once to believe that the apostles were in compact with these demons, and that the miracles they wrought were done by the agency of these wicked spirits, and that the whole was the effect of magic; and this, of course, would harden their hearts against the preaching of the Gospel. 2. The Gentiles, finding that their own demon bore testimony to the apostles, would naturally consider that the whole was one system; that they had nothing to learn, nothing to correct; and thus the preaching of the apostles must be useless to them. In such a predicament is this, nothing could have saved the credit of the apostles but their dispossessing this woman of her familiar spirit, and that in the most incontestable manner; for what could have saved the credit of Moses and Aaron, when the magicians of Egypt turned their rods into serpents, had not Aaron's rod devoured theirs? And what could have saved the credit of these apostles but the casting out of this spirit of divination, with which, otherwise, both Jews and Gentiles would have believed them in compact?

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826

These men are the servants, etc. - It is astonishing how such a testimony could be given in such a case; every syllable of it true, and at the same time full, clear, and distinct. But mark the deep design and artifice of this evil spirit:

1. He well knew that the Jewish law abhorred all magic, incantations, magical rites, and dealings with familiar spirits; he therefore bears what was in itself a true testimony to the apostles, that by it he may destroy their credit, and ruin their usefulness. The Jews, by this testimony, would be led at once to believe that the apostles were in compact with these demons, and that the miracles they wrought were done by the agency of these wicked spirits, and that the whole was the effect of magic; and this, of course, would harden their hearts against the preaching of the Gospel.

2. The Gentiles, finding that their own demon bore testimony to the apostles, would naturally consider that the whole was one system; that they had nothing to learn, nothing to correct; and thus the preaching of the apostles must be useless to them. In such a predicament is this, nothing could have saved the credit of the apostles but their dispossessing this woman of her familiar spirit, and that in the most incontestable manner; for what could have saved the credit of Moses and Aaron, when the magicians of Egypt turned their rods into serpents, had not Aaron's rod devoured theirs? And what could have saved the credit of these apostles but the casting out of this spirit of divination, with which, otherwise, both Jews and Gentiles would have believed them in compact?

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