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Acts 16:17

New Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Acts 16:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “The same following after Paul and us cried out, saying, These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim unto you the way of salvation.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

The same following after Paul and us cried out, saying, These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim unto you the way of salvation.
Acts 16:17 — American Standard Version

Context — Acts 16

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
14And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, one that worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened to give heed unto the things which were spoken by Paul.
15And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide [there]. And she constrained us.
16And 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.
17The same following after Paul and us cried out, saying, These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim unto you the way of salvation.
18And this she did for many days. But Paul, being sore troubled, turned and said to the spirit, I charge thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And it came out that very hour.
19But 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,
20and when they had brought them unto the magistrates, they said, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
← Acts 16:16Acts 16:18 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“The same followed Paul and us, etc.] Silas, Luke, and Timothy; the Arabic version reads, “the same followed Paul and Silas”; as they were going to the oratory: and cried, saying, these men are the servants of the most high God; not of Python, or Apollo, as she and her masters were; or of any of the deities of the Gentiles; nor of sin, nor of Satan, nor of men, but of the one only true and living God, one of whose titles is ˆwyl[, “Elion”, the “Most High”, (<011422>Genesis 14:22 <198318>Psalm 83:18) and these men were his servants, not merely by right of creation, as all men are, or should be; nor only through the power of divine grace upon their souls, bringing them into a willing obedience…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“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.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The same followed Paul ... - Why she did this, or under what presence, the sacred writer has not informed us. It may have been: 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, 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, 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…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“These men are - A great truth: but St. Paul did not need, nor would accept, of such testimony. Acts 16:19”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“These: Act 19:13; Mat 8:29; Mar 1:24; Luk 4:34, Luk 4:41 the servants: Dan 3:26, Dan 3:28, Dan 6:16, Dan 6:20; Jon 1:9; Pe1 2:16 the most: Gen 14:18-22; Psa 57:2, Psa 78:35; Dan 4:2, Dan 5:18, Dan 5:21; Mic 6:6; Mar 5:7; Luk 8:28 the way: Act 16:30, Act 16:31, Act 18:26; Mat 7:13, Mat 7:14, Mat 22:16; Mar 12:14; Luk 1:77, Luk 1:79, Luk 20:21; Joh 14:6; Heb 10:19-22 Acts 16:18”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification