Scripture: Acts 16:16-34 (cf. verses 16 - 18)
Theme: Paul and the Pythoness
Proposition: Luke shares with us the story of the young Pythoness - 1. Luke shares the story of her divination (enslavement) 2. Her Declaration concerning Paul and His mission and 3. Her Deliverance and salvation
Lessons to learn:
1. The importance and power of prayer. 2. Nothing or no one can hinder or stop the ongoing message of the Gospel of Jesus. 3. The power of intercession and intervention.
INTRO:
Grace and peace from God our Father and from His Son Jesus Christ who came to take away the sin of the world. Praise to the LORD for the leading and anointing of His Holy Spirit.
This morning, do you know what John Edwards, Terry and Linda Jamison, Theresa Caputo and Lisa Williams all have in common? They are listed among the top five psychics in our world today. In the midst of all our modern technology and emphasis on science and reason, the world of soothsaying, fortune telling and psychic readings is very much alive and well. In fact, according to a recent survey 1 out every 7 people in the United States have paid for someone to tell them their fortune.1 That means that over 45 million people in our country have paid someone to tell them their future.
Acclaimed psychic, John Edwards has been able to convinced so many people of his skills that he longer has to make a living as a ballroom dancer. He is now one of the most well known and well paid psychics in the world. People have handed over millions of dollars for his predictions or for him to communicate with a loved one on the other side. Edwards has authored over eight books and has appeared in numerous TV shows, movies and talk shows.
Born in Hicksville, New York, Ms. Teresa Cuputo has done even better. She is known as the "Long Island Medium" and for the last eight years has had her own reality show on The Learning Channel. She is estimated to be worth around 5 - 10 million dollars through the sale of her books, her TV appearances, seminars and private readings. Her psychic concerts are sold out and just recently Wal-mart has picked up her newest best seller. The day of soothsaying, mediums and psychics is back in full force.
In Acts, 16 Luke shares with us a story that involves a young soothsayer or fortune teller. It is the story of Paul and a young girl called a Pythoness ( py•tho•ness - a female who is possessed by a soothsaying spirit from the god Apollo) . After Lydia's conversion, we know that Paul and his missionary team spent some time living in her home. The Apostle used her home as his first missionary base headquarters. Each day he and his team would go throughout the city of Philippi to share the message of Jesus. Each evening they would come back to Lydia house and debrief and retire for the night.
In our passage, Luke shares that one Sabbath as they were all going to the place to pray they encountered this rather unusual slave girl. She had not come to the river to pray but being led by an evil spirit she came to create confusion and chaos. Her demon host was determine to confuse the message of Jesus Christ. This demon was determined to stop Paul's missionary team before it ever got started. Luke shares with us her story here in verses 16 - 18. Like those top five psychics we mentioned earlier, this young slave girl was also making quite a bit of money. In fact, she was the meal ticket for her owners. She provided them a living. Let's look at her story in more detail this morning and see what the Holy Spirit wants us to glean from it.
I. The first thing we see is a young girl possessed with a spirit of Divination (fortune telling)
Fortune telling and predicting the future back in Paul's day was an even bigger business that it is today. For centuries the Greeks believed that the god Apollo (son of Zeus) had granted certain women the supernatural ability to tell the future2. The greatest of these women was the Oracle or Phythia who resided at his temple in Delphi. It was believed that the Oracle could channel the spirit of Apollo. Her word was said to be infallible. Each month on the seventh day (except during the winter months) she would go into the temple and come out to share her supernatural insights and prophecies.3
Historians tell us that Philip of Macedonia and his son, Alexander the Great spent a great deal of time consulting the Oracle before they would go into battle. They wanted to make sure that they would be victorious. They wanted to make sure that they had the Oracle's blessings. Leaders as far away as Egypt ( 1,000 miles or more) would come and bow at her feet seeking her wisdom and knowledge. For nearly a thousand years (560 B.C. to A.D. 371), the Oracle of Delphi would serve as the most prestigious and revered fortune teller in the world. Her answers guided the civilized world for the timing of wars, the establishment of new settlements, and wisdom to appease the gods.
The young girl we meet her in our passage was not the great Oracle. However, she was the resident pythoness or oracle for the Temple of Apollo located in Philippi. It was believed that she possessed the ability to channel the spirit of Apollo and predict the future for those who lived around the city of Philippi. The Great Oracle of Delphi was some 325 miles away and to travel that distance would cost a great deal of money and time. This young girl served as local oracle and representative of Python and Apollo. If you didn't want or could not go to Delphi, then you could go and pay her to tell your future.
I say served because our writer shares she was in fact a slave and a rather young slave. Unmarried females under the age of 14 were seen to be the best pythoness. Their youth and purity were a plus in being able to channel the spirit of Apollo. Bible scholars tell us that the young girl in our story could have been as young as 10 years old. That means she would have been the same age as a normal 4th grader.
On a rare occasion a married women would take up the role of an oracle or pythoness. However, when they happened they were required to give up their husbands and families and live near the temple. That way they could be totally dedicated to Apollo and be able to better channel his spirit.
The picture Luke shares with us is that of a young girl being exploited by a demon and by her human owners. Her age and her social status caused her to be the perfect victim of abuse. We see that her owners did not care very much about her welfare as much as they cared about her ability to bring them revenue. Luke does not reveal her name. It could have been that her owners had not named her. They may have believed by not giving her a name it provided more mystery. And she could have been that she was called by her title of being an oracle or pythoness. Nevertheless, this young slave girl was simply a meal ticket, nothing more. Her only value was how much money should could make her owners.
The whole ritual of telling someone's future was quite theatrical. Normally, before an fortune telling event the pythoness was given some type of hallucinogen drug or gas to help her connect with the spirit of Apollo. By the time she met the individual(s) she would be in a trance like state. Sometimes she would go into wild distortions and start thrashing her arms and legs. At other times she would start crying out in such high pitched shrills that people would have to cover their ears. Finally, she would settle down and tell them what was going to happen. The whole ritual was rather dramatic and attention getting. It was also easy for the young ladies involved to become addicted to the drugs they were given and be enslaved even more.
Now, some of the oracles were simply young girls who were drugged just enough so that they could fake the whole ordeal. They were professional con artists. They were simply playing a role. They were totally a sham. Their prophecies were so ambiguous that they could be interpreted all kinds of ways. It was simply an act for them to get some money for the temple, for themselves or for their handlers.
Here in Luke 16, we see this is not the case. Luke tells us clearly that this young slave girl was possessed by a demonic spirit that enabled her to predict the future. She was neither an imposter, lunatic nor a skilled ventriloquist. She was in fact, the real deal. She could accurately tell the future or at least enough of it to convince someone and make her owners a great deal of money. She did not have to result to drugs or to theatrics. Over time she had earned the reputation as an authentic soothsayer and oracle of Apollo. So much so that it appears that she was in high demand.
At times, we followers of Jesus, forget the reality that the Devil and his legion of demons possess great supernatural power. Sometimes, we forget that they are demonic forces at work that are able to entice people with their own signs and wonders. Jesus warns of this in Matthew 24:24 - "For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray if possible, even the elect."
Not everyone who can tell the future is a prophet from God or a person of holiness. Not everyone who can perform a great sign or wonder is a believer in Jesus. In this case, it was a young girl who was being exploited by both her human owners and a demonic spirit. In this case it was a young girl who was being enslaved by a demon.
II. Secondly, Luke share with us this young girl's Declaration
In verse 17, this young girl begins to follow Paul and his missionary team crying out - "THESE MEN ARE SLAVES OF THE MOST HIGH GOD, WHO PROCLAIM TO YOU A WAY OF SALVATION."
It is here that we have to examine her declaration in detail. If we are not careful, we will miss what this young girl actually said. At first, it looks like she is a great advertisement for Paul and his team. Everyone around her sees her as an oracle and as someone who can speak for the gods. She is seen as a person whom can channel the spirits.
Therefore, on the surface it would seem that this would be the very thing that Paul and his team need. Among the Jewish followers, Paul could use Lydia and her household as his spokespersons. Lydia could share with all her Jewish friends the Good News of Jesus. She could serve as Paul's local evangelist to the Jews.
This young pythoness would then be able to go and tell all the Gentiles that Paul was serving the Most High God - the God that is above all gods. That Paul was telling them a way of salvation. That by listening to Paul and his team they could find salvation. It looked like a win - win.
However, on closer inspection that is not exactly what is happening in this passage:
In more recent studies it has been noticed that the word translated as "the" in this sentence can also be translated as "a". In other words - instead of her saying - "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation is really saying - "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation.4
I believe that the evidence shows us that to be the case. Now, one can quickly see why Paul begins to be troubled in his spirit. This young lady is not telling everyone that Paul is preaching Jesus as the Only Way, Truth and the Life, but that Paul is simply saying that Jesus is another way to find salvation. She is therefore proclaiming a half truth. She is agreeing that Paul can help someone find salvation. She is also agreeing that in Jesus one can find salvation. What she is not agreeing with is that Jesus is the Only Way. What is she is not agreeing with is that Jesus is the only Son of God and Savior and LORD of all creation.
We also see something else going on. In her using the words - "MOST HIGH GOD" to us naturally those words would refer back to the Hebrew words of El Elyon - the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob. They refer to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. They are words that Jews use to give God highest praise.
However, this young lady did not use the words EL Elyon and she was not Jewish. Speaking as an oracle, especially one who speaks for Apollo her words would have had a far different meaning. Those Gentiles and even the Jews that heard her would not have thought of El Elyon. Apollo was believed to have been the son of Zeus and Leto and the brother of Artemis. Now, if you can remember your Greek mythology then you remember at that time Zeus was worshipped by the Greeks and many of the Romans as the highest of all the gods, even above Caesar. It would have been Zeus that many would have thought she was referring to as the MOST HIGH GOD.
So, while it is possible that the Jews hearing this young girl might have thought she was speaking of El Elyon, the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, the truth is that the majority of people hearing her would have thought she was referring to Zeus. So, let's back up for a moment and see what we really have being said by this young demon possessed girl:
THESE MEN ARE SERVANTS OF ZEUS, THE MOST HIGH GOD, WHO PROCLAIM TO YOU A WAY OF SALVATION
That is far different than saying - These men are servants of the Highest God, the Jewish God and they are proclaiming to you the only way of salvation.
In essence, then what this young girl being possessed by this demon was doing was attempting to tell everyone that Jesus was simply another god or even demi-god under the leadership of Zeus. She was giving the people who heard her permission for them to believe in Jesus because he was under Zeus. They could believe in Jesus and at the same time also continue to believe in her and the other gods. She was preaching polytheism.
This demon that was possessing this girl was doing its best to create an environment full of confusion and chaos. If you were not tuned into her exact words it would sound like this demon was praising God and the message of Jesus. However, once you fully understand what she was really saying - this demon was doing its best to undercut the true message of Jesus and promote polytheism. It was doing its best to say that Jesus is only one of the many ways to salvation. That same lie is being told all over our world today. The devil is doing his best to get people to believe that there are many avenues to salvation and that Jesus is simply only one of them.
At times it is easy for us to forget how good the devil is about spreading half truths and lies. How good he is in twisting words so that if we are not careful we will be led down the wrong path. How many people today believe that you can go to heaven without Jesus, without the Church and without living a life of holiness? The Apostle John reminds us that we must always test the spirits (1 John 5).
Not only does the Devil and his demons have great power but they also are able to weave little half truths around until people are taken in to their deceptions. The devil doesn't mind telling the truth as long as it is his truth - a truth that is shrouded in lies and deception. His mission is to lie, steal and cheat someone out of their abundant life here on earth and their everlasting life in heaven.
III. Finally, Luke shares with us a picture of total Deliverance
Luke tells us that this young girl followed Paul and his team around for awhile. People reading this passage have wondered why Paul didn't immediately cast out the demon? Why did it take him so long?
Scholars have provided us with a number of reasons:
+ Perhaps, Paul was unsure what was going on.
Like any good Jew, Paul may have first thought she was referring to the most High God as El Elyon and was in fact helping his cause. After, all when any Jew heard those words they would immediately think of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. However, I believe that once Paul began to realize what she was really saying he took immediate action. As soon as he understood that she was promoting polytheism, Paul proceeded to confront the demon and cast it out of the girl.
+Perhaps, Paul was simply trying to get his footing and did not want to create a scene.
Paul knew that Philippi was not a highly populated Jewish area and that most Gentiles did not trust Jews. He did not want to stir up a hornet's nest so early in his travels which of course is exactly what did happen after he cast out the demon. In verses 19ff we see that in no time he and Silas are arrested, beaten and thrown into the inner chambers of the prison where they are bound hand and foot in stocks.
+ Or perhaps, it just took him some time to see that this little girl was really being exploited. Watching her Paul came to realize that she was not herself and that her act was not some sham. He began to see that she was being exploited both by her owners and by a demonic presence. Paul realized that she couldn't free herself and compassionately he stepped in and brought her freedom.
All we do know is at some point, Paul began to be very troubled in his spirit. Luke says that Paul turned around and facing the girl quickly dismissed the demon in the name of Jesus. Immediately, the demon had to leave. Immediately, the girl was free of her demonic overlord.
Luke doesn't tell us what happened to her to her next, but I think we can all make a very educated guess. All of this happened around the area of where the Early Christians would come and pray. No doubt, Lydia and her whole household saw what had happened. They knew that the girl was of no longer of any value to her slave owners. Without her special powers they would have wanted to quickly get rid of her. Plus, Paul had just proved that he had more power in the name of Jesus than she had ever possessed in the power of Apollo.
I believe that very quickly Lydia stepped up and rescued this young girl. Without the demon she was worthless. Her owners would have very quickly taken anything that Lydia could offer. I have no doubt that this young little girl became a part of Lydia's household that day. No doubt she was part of Paul's co-laborers that he spoke so highly of when he wrote his letter to the church at Philippi.
So, in closing this morning, do we simply have a story of an exorcism? Or is it just a bridge story that enables us to get to the bigger story of Paul and Silas and the jailer? After all, most people when they read this passage quickly skim over our story and get to what they see as the bigger and better story of the stocks, the singing and the salvation story of the jailer and his family.
I believe the Holy Spirit inspired Luke to share this story to remind us:
1. The importance and power of prayer.
It was during a set time of prayer that all of this happened. And it was through a prayer in the name of Jesus that the young girl was delivered.
2. Nothing or no one can hinder or stop the ongoing message of the Gospel of Jesus.
Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 28 that all authority in heaven and on earth had been given to Him. Jesus told his disciples that no matter what the devil throws at the Church it will be victorious as long as it stays true to the message and name of Jesus as Savior and LORD. Paul won the victory that day not through his own power and wisdom. Paul was victorious that day through the mighty name of Jesus.
3. The power of intercession and intervention.
The little girl in this story was a victim. She had been possessed by a demon and had been exploited by her slave owners. She had done nothing to deserve the treatment that she was receiving or the life she was having to live. She was bound body, soul and mind and was not able to free herself.
It took the prayers, courage and authority of Paul in the name of Jesus to bring her healing and wholeness. Her freedom came because someone stepped in and intervened. She was delivered because someone cared enough about her to intercede for her in the name of Jesus.
Today, all across our land we will be celebrating Mother's Day. We will honor those precious women that gave of themselves so that we could come into the world. We will be honoring those women that sacrificed their time, talents and resources so that we could be raised with integrity and honor. Today, we appreciate all that they have done for each and every one of us.
One has to wonder what happened to this little girl's mother. Was she a good mom? Was her daughter taken away from her at a very early age because she showed signs of being an oracle? Was her child stolen from her? Was her mom also a victim?
There is a great deal we do not know. However, through the intervention of Paul and others her life was rescued. Today, as you rejoice and celebrate your own family and your own mother let us think of those who have been left alone, behind and who are being exploited each and every day. Let us determine that today not only will our mother receive a gift or note of appreciation but we will also give to an organization that is dedicated to helping young women, men, boys and girls have a place to sleep, some clothes to wear and some food to eat.
Let this story motivate you today to reach out to all the people like this young girl who are being abused and exploited. It is estimated that over 300,000 children in the US alone are being exploited. People in the know tell us that millions and millions of people all over our world are being exploited. Human trafficking is at an all time high.
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
