Acts 16:16 and following
Paul was set apart and called to be an apostle. In this story, neither the slave girl nor her owners showed any interest in the gospel. They did not end up believing in Christ. Paul did not seem to be particularly led to cast the demon out of the girl. It seemed more likely that he decided early on to try to ignore the demon possessed girl - he let her go on and on for "many days."
Eventually, Paul became greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out of her at once. (Acts 16:18)
The passage does not say that finally, the Lord led Paul to cast the demon out. Rather, Paul cast the demon out when he became fed up, "greatly annoyed." Does God use even our annoyance to get us across borders we with good reason tend to avoid.
Paul had three opportunities to escape all or some of consequences he suffered.
1. He could have refrained from casting the demon out of the slave girl.
2. He and Silas could have told the authorities that they were Roman citizens and they probably wouldn't have been severely beaten.
3. He and Silas could have run away when the earthquake caused the chains to come loose.
When we cross cultural borders, there will be consequences if we "meddle" in the affairs of the people in a foreign land. This is especially true if our meddling results in adverse social/political, religious and/or economic consequences to people in the foreign land. In this case, the consequences of casting out the demon were economic, but in seeking revenge, the slave girl's owners claimed there were adverse social/political consequences as well (v. 20) In Ephesus, the consequences of Paul's ministry ("He says that man-made gods are no gods at all" Acts 19:26) were social ("led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia" Acts 19:26) economic ("our trade will lose its good name" Acts 19:27, religious ("the temple of the great goddess Artemus will be discredited..." Acts 19:27) and political ("As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of today's events." Acts 19:40) Actually, if there are not religious and social and political and economic consequences to spreading the Gospel then we have probably failed to spread the Gospel.
Crossing borders with the Gospel is about more than just conversing with people who are different from us. Crossing borders and sharing the Gospel can often lead to persecution. How built up and prepared are we for such a "blessing"? (See Matt. 5:11)
Eventually, Paul became greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out of her at once. (Acts 16:18)
The passage does not say that finally, the Lord led Paul to cast the demon out. Rather, Paul cast the demon out when he became fed up, "greatly annoyed." Does God use even our annoyance to get us across borders we with good reason tend to avoid.
Paul had three opportunities to escape all or some of consequences he suffered.
1. He could have refrained from casting the demon out of the slave girl.
2. He and Silas could have told the authorities that they were Roman citizens and they probably wouldn't have been severely beaten.
3. He and Silas could have run away when the earthquake caused the chains to come loose.
When we cross cultural borders, there will be consequences if we "meddle" in the affairs of the people in a foreign land. This is especially true if our meddling results in adverse social/political, religious and/or economic consequences to people in the foreign land. In this case, the consequences of casting out the demon were economic, but in seeking revenge, the slave girl's owners claimed there were adverse social/political consequences as well (v. 20) In Ephesus, the consequences of Paul's ministry ("He says that man-made gods are no gods at all" Acts 19:26) were social ("led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia" Acts 19:26) economic ("our trade will lose its good name" Acts 19:27, religious ("the temple of the great goddess Artemus will be discredited..." Acts 19:27) and political ("As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of today's events." Acts 19:40) Actually, if there are not religious and social and political and economic consequences to spreading the Gospel then we have probably failed to spread the Gospel.
Crossing borders with the Gospel is about more than just conversing with people who are different from us. Crossing borders and sharing the Gospel can often lead to persecution. How built up and prepared are we for such a "blessing"? (See Matt. 5:11)
posted by wasabi at 3:05 PM
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