Acts 16:19

KJV

And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew [them] into the marketplace unto the rulers,

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G1161} when her {G846} masters {G2962} saw {G1492} that {G3754} the hope {G1680} of their {G846} gains {G2039} was gone {G1831}, they caught {G1949} Paul {G3972} and {G2532} Silas {G4609}, and drew {G1670} them into {G1519} the marketplace {G58} unto {G1909} the rulers {G758},

Complete Jewish Bible

But when her owners saw that what had come out was any further prospect of profit for them, they seized Sha’ul and Sila and dragged them to the market square to face the authorities.

Berean Standard Bible

When the girl’s owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the marketplace.

American Standard Version

But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they laid hold on Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 16:19 details the immediate and hostile reaction of the slave girl's owners after Paul cast out the spirit of divination from her. Driven purely by the sudden loss of their substantial income derived from her fortune-telling abilities, these masters seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the public square, intending to bring them before the city's governing authorities for legal action. This verse starkly highlights the clash between the liberating power of the Gospel and the entrenched worldly interests that profit from spiritual bondage.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is the direct consequence of the miraculous deliverance described in [Acts 16:16-18](/acts/16-16-18 "Acts 16:16-18 - Paul Delivers the Slave Girl"). For many days, a slave girl possessed by a spirit of divination had been following Paul and Silas, repeatedly proclaiming them as "servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation" ([Acts 16:17](/acts/16-17 "Acts 16:17 - Slave Girl's Proclamation")). While her words were true, her spiritual bondage and the demonic source of her proclamation were problematic. Paul, becoming "annoyed" by her persistent cries, finally turned and, in the name of Jesus Christ, commanded the spirit to come out of her. The spirit left her instantly ([Acts 16:18](/acts/16-18 "Acts 16:18 - Paul Casts Out the Spirit")). The masters' reaction in this verse is not a response to the truth of Paul's message, but to the economic disruption caused by the girl's liberation, setting the stage for the subsequent persecution and imprisonment of Paul and Silas in Philippi.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Philippi was a significant Roman colony, granted special privileges and governed by Roman law. As a Roman colony, it had its own magistrates (often called *praetors* or *duumviri*) who presided over legal matters in the *agora* (marketplace), which served as the public square, commercial hub, and judicial center. Slavery was a pervasive institution in the Roman world, and slave owners had extensive legal rights over their property, including the right to profit from their slaves' abilities. Divination was a common practice, and individuals believed to possess such gifts, like the slave girl, could generate considerable income for their owners. The masters' immediate recourse to the Roman legal system in the marketplace reflects the standard procedure for addressing perceived grievances or crimes in a Roman city, particularly when economic interests were threatened.

* **Key Themes:** The central theme emerging from this verse is the **conflict between spiritual liberation and worldly profit**. The masters' sole concern was the "hope of their gains," revealing a profound spiritual blindness and a prioritization of material wealth over human dignity and spiritual freedom. This incident also powerfully illustrates the **opposition to the Gospel** that often arises when its truth challenges established systems of injustice or exploitation. The kingdom of God, as proclaimed by Paul and Silas, directly confronted the economic exploitation of the slave girl, leading to immediate persecution. This foreshadows a recurring pattern in the New Testament where the advance of God's kingdom disrupts the status quo, prompting hostile reactions from those whose power or profit is threatened, as seen in passages like [Acts 19:23-29](/acts/19-23-29 "Acts 19:23-29 - The Riot in Ephesus") where Demetrius the silversmith incites a riot due to the decline in idol sales. The event also underscores the **economic consequences of spiritual transformation**, showing how genuine spiritual change can expose and dismantle systems built on greed and spiritual deception.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **masters (Greek, _kýrios_):** This word, often translated "Lord" when referring to God or Christ, here denotes "owner" or "controller." Its use highlights the absolute authority these men had over the slave girl, treating her as mere property whose value was solely tied to her ability to generate income. Their identity as "masters" underscores their position of power and their vested interest in maintaining the status quo of exploitation.
* **gains (Greek, _ergasía_):** This term refers to "occupation," "business," or "profit." In this context, it specifically denotes the financial income derived from the slave girl's fortune-telling. The masters' "hope" was entirely centered on this *ergasía*, revealing their mercenary motivation and the depth of their financial loss, which eclipsed any concern for the girl's well-being or spiritual liberation.
* **drew (Greek, _helkýō_):** This verb means "to drag" or "to pull forcibly." It conveys the aggressive and violent nature of the masters' actions. They did not politely invite Paul and Silas; they physically seized and dragged them, indicating their intense anger and determination to bring them to public judgment, reflecting the raw power dynamic at play.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone":** This clause establishes the central motivation for the masters' actions. Their "hope" was not spiritual or moral, but entirely economic. The "gains" (profit) from the slave girl's divination had ceased, directly impacting their financial well-being. This immediate realization of financial loss triggered their response.
* **"they caught Paul and Silas":** This describes the masters' swift and direct physical action. They "caught" or "seized" the apostles, indicating an aggressive apprehension, not a legal arrest by authorities. This act was driven by their personal outrage and a desire to regain control over their lost income.
* **"and drew [them] into the marketplace unto the rulers":** This details the destination and purpose of the masters' actions. The "marketplace" (agora) was the public square, the center of civic and judicial life in a Roman city. By dragging Paul and Silas there, the masters intended to bring a public accusation against them before the "rulers" (magistrates or city officials), seeking legal redress for their perceived financial injury.

#### Literary Devices
The verse effectively employs **Conflict** as a primary literary device, setting up a stark opposition between the spiritual power of the Gospel and the worldly power of economic exploitation. The masters' actions are a direct result of this clash, highlighting how the kingdom of God disrupts established systems of injustice. There is also a strong element of **Irony** present; the masters, who profited from a woman's spiritual bondage, now accuse Paul and Silas of disrupting the peace, ostensibly for "justice." The "marketplace" itself functions as **Symbolism**, representing the public arena where societal values and power dynamics are played out, and where the clash between the sacred and the profane becomes visible. The forceful action of "drawing" Paul and Silas into this public space also serves as **Foreshadowing** for the public trial and persecution they are about to endure, setting the stage for the dramatic events that follow in Philippi.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse vividly illustrates the inherent tension between the values of God's kingdom and the values of the fallen world. The masters' reaction underscores that the Gospel's advance is not always met with welcome; it often exposes and challenges systems built on greed, injustice, and spiritual exploitation. For those whose identities and livelihoods are intertwined with such systems, the liberating truth of Christ can be perceived as a direct threat, leading to hostility and persecution. This incident serves as a powerful reminder that following Christ often entails disrupting the status quo and facing opposition from those who benefit from spiritual darkness or economic oppression.

* [Matthew 10:22](/matthew/10-22 "Matthew 10:22 - You Will Be Hated for My Name's Sake")
* [2 Timothy 3:12](/2_timothy/3-12 "2 Timothy 3:12 - All Who Desire to Live Godly Will Suffer Persecution")
* [John 15:18-20](/john/15-18-20 "John 15:18-20 - The World Will Hate You")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 16:19 serves as a potent reminder that the pursuit of God's kingdom and the proclamation of the Gospel will inevitably encounter resistance, particularly from those whose vested interests are threatened by truth and liberation. For believers today, this passage calls us to a sober assessment of our own priorities: do we value spiritual freedom and the advance of God's justice above worldly comfort or financial gain? It challenges us to anticipate opposition when we stand for what is right and to discern the true motives behind resistance to spiritual truth, which often stem from economic or selfish concerns rather than genuine moral objections. This verse encourages us to remain steadfast, knowing that the disruption caused by the Gospel is part of its transformative power, even if it leads to personal cost.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the "hope of their gains" in this passage challenge my own priorities regarding material wealth versus spiritual values?**
* **In what ways might the Gospel message I share disrupt existing systems or personal comforts in my community or even my own life?**
* **How can I prepare myself to face opposition or persecution when my faith challenges the status quo, and what resources does God provide for such times?**

### FAQ
**Who were the "masters" of the slave girl, and what was their motivation?**

Answer: The "masters" were the owners of the slave girl, who had been profiting immensely from her ability to tell fortunes through a spirit of divination. Their motivation was purely economic. When Paul cast out the spirit, the girl lost her "gift," and thus the masters lost their source of income. This financial loss, rather than any concern for justice or the girl's well-being, was the sole reason they seized Paul and Silas and brought them before the authorities. Their "gains" (Greek: *ergasía*) were their primary concern, highlighting a stark contrast between their worldly pursuit and the spiritual liberation offered by the Gospel.

**What was the significance of being "drawn into the marketplace unto the rulers"?**

Answer: The "marketplace" (Greek: *agora*) was the central public square in a Roman city like Philippi, serving as the commercial, social, and judicial hub. Being "drawn" or "dragged" into this space signified a public accusation and humiliation. The masters intended to bring Paul and Silas before the "rulers" (Greek: *árchōn*, referring to the city magistrates or *duumviri*), who held judicial authority. This action was a formal attempt to use the Roman legal system to punish Paul and Silas for disrupting their profitable enterprise, framing their spiritual act as a civil disturbance or a threat to Roman customs, as they later accuse in [Acts 16:20-21](/acts/16-20-21 "Acts 16:20-21 - Accusations Against Paul and Silas").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 16:19, though a narrative of human conflict and economic motivation, finds its Christ-centered fulfillment in several profound ways. The persecution faced by Paul and Silas, driven by the disruption of an unrighteous system, directly mirrors the opposition Jesus Himself encountered when His ministry challenged the established religious and economic powers of His day. Just as the masters were enraged by the loss of their "gains," so too were those who profited from the temple system or held religious authority threatened by Jesus's teachings and miracles, which exposed their hypocrisy and undermined their control (e.g., [Matthew 21:12-13](/matthew/21-12-13 "Matthew 21:12-13 - Jesus Cleanses the Temple")). The forceful dragging of Paul and Silas into the marketplace foreshadows Christ's own unjust arrest and public trial before Pilate, where He was condemned not for any crime, but because His truth threatened the prevailing order ([John 18:28-40](/john/18-28-40 "John 18:28-40 - Jesus Before Pilate")). Ultimately, Christ's mission was to liberate those enslaved by sin and spiritual darkness, just as Paul liberated the slave girl. This liberation, however, often comes at a cost to those who benefit from the bondage, demonstrating that the Kingdom of God, inaugurated by Christ, inherently disrupts and dismantles systems of exploitation and injustice, leading to a clash that culminates in the triumph of His redemptive work on the cross ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Principalities")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Acts 21:30

And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut.

Acts 17:6

And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;

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:

Acts 18:12

¶ And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,

Acts 18:13

Saying, This [fellow] persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.

Acts 8:3

As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed [them] to prison.

2 Corinthians 6:5

In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;