Sermon Central
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Paul And The Pythoness
Contributed by Ernie Arnold on Nov 28, 2017 (message contributor)
Summary: Luke shares with us the story of the salvation of the Pythoness - 1. Luke shares the story of her divination (enslavement) 2. Her Declaration concerning Paul and His mission and 3. Her Deliverance and salvation
Let us determine today that in the name of Jesus that we will do all we can to cast out the demons that lie, steal and trap people all over our world. Let us determine today that we will do something to help someone like this little girl find freedom and wholeness in the name of Jesus.5
1 http://www.pewforum.org/2009/12/09/many-americans-mix-multiple-faiths/
2 I leave this as a footnote. I did not want to spend a great deal of time giving Apollo or the belief in the Pythoness attention. The material below is to be used in a small group setting where more attention can be given and there is time to discuss just how evil this belief/religion was in Roman Empire at that time.
The Python was a mythical serpent or dragon that guarded the temple and oracle of Apollo, located on the southern slope of Mount Parnassus to the north of the Gulf of Corinth. It was supposed to have lived at the foot of Mount Parnassus and to have eventually been killed by Apollo (cf. Strabo, Geography 9.3.12). Later the word pythoncame to mean a demon-possessed person through whom the Python spoke — even a ventriloquist was thought to have such a spirit living in his or her belly. (Richard N. Longenecker, “Acts,” The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, vol. 9 [ed. Frank E. Gaebelein; Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1981], page 462)
3 http://www.ancient.eu/delphi/ The oracle of Apollo at Delphi was famed throughout the Greek world and even beyond. The oracle - the Pythia or priestess - would answer questions put to her by visitors wishing to be guided in their future actions. The whole process was a lengthy one, usually taking up a whole day and only carried out on specific days of the year. First the priestess would perform various actions of purification such as washing in the nearby Castalian Spring, burning laurel leaves, and drinking holy water. Next an animal - usually a goat - was sacrificed. The party seeking advice would then offer a pelanos - a sort of pie - before being allowed into the inner temple where the priestess resided and gave her pronouncements, possibly in a drug or natural gas-induced state of ecstasy.
4 https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/Acts/Witness-Philippi and translations like the CEB, DLNT, NABRE, NRSV, NRSVA, WEB, YLT
5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_organizations_that_combat_human_trafficking
