Acts 16:19
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,
Original Language Analysis
ἰδόντες
saw
G1492
ἰδόντες
saw
Strong's:
G1492
Word #:
1 of 25
used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent g3700 and g3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by impl
οἱ
G3588
οἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 25
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
κύριοι
masters
G2962
κύριοι
masters
Strong's:
G2962
Word #:
4 of 25
supreme in authority, i.e., (as noun) controller; by implication, master (as a respectful title)
αὐτῶν
when her
G846
αὐτῶν
when her
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
5 of 25
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ὅτι
that
G3754
ὅτι
that
Strong's:
G3754
Word #:
6 of 25
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
ἡ
G3588
ἡ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
8 of 25
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τῆς
G3588
τῆς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
10 of 25
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
αὐτῶν
when her
G846
αὐτῶν
when her
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
12 of 25
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ἐπιλαβόμενοι
they caught
G1949
ἐπιλαβόμενοι
they caught
Strong's:
G1949
Word #:
13 of 25
to seize (for help, injury, attainment, or any other purpose; literally or figuratively)
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
14 of 25
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Παῦλον
Paul
G3972
Παῦλον
Paul
Strong's:
G3972
Word #:
15 of 25
(little; but remotely from a derivative of g3973, meaning the same); paulus, the name of a roman and of an apostle
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
16 of 25
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
17 of 25
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
εἰς
them into
G1519
εἰς
them into
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
20 of 25
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
τὴν
G3588
τὴν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
21 of 25
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἀγορὰν
the marketplace
G58
ἀγορὰν
the marketplace
Strong's:
G58
Word #:
22 of 25
properly, the town-square (as a place of public resort); by implication, a market or thoroughfare
ἐπὶ
unto
G1909
ἐπὶ
unto
Strong's:
G1909
Word #:
23 of 25
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re
Cross References
Acts 21:30And 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 17:6And 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 16:16And 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 8:3As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.Mark 13:9But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.Matthew 24:9Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.2 Corinthians 6:5In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
Historical Context
Philippi was a Roman colony (Acts 16:12) with special legal status, making the marketplace the center of civic and judicial life. The "masters" (κύριοι) were likely multiple slave-owners profiting from the girl's fortune-telling. Roman law protected property rights aggressively, and Paul's miracle constituted economic interference, making prosecution almost inevitable in this militaristic, commerce-driven city.
Questions for Reflection
- When have you seen the Gospel opposed not on theological grounds but because it threatened someone's financial interests or social status?
- How does the willingness of Paul and Silas to face legal consequences for liberating one enslaved girl challenge your understanding of costly discipleship?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
When her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone (ἰδόντες ὅτι ἐξῆλθεν ἡ ἐλπὶς τῆς ἐργασίας αὐτῶν)—The Greek ergasia (ἐργασία) means "business" or "profit," exposing the commercial exploitation of the demon-possessed girl. Paul's exorcism destroyed their revenue stream, not their theological worldview. This reveals a stark pattern throughout Acts: opposition to the Gospel rarely stems from intellectual objection but from threatened financial or political interests (cf. Ephesus's silversmiths in Acts 19:23-27).
They caught Paul and Silas, and drew them (ἐπιλαβόμενοι τὸν Παῦλον καὶ τὸν Σιλᾶν εἵλκυσαν)—The violent verb heilkusan (dragged forcibly) echoes Jesus's prediction that disciples would be "brought before rulers" (Luke 21:12). Notably, Timothy and Luke avoided arrest, likely because only Roman citizens Paul and Silas could be charged in the agora (marketplace-forum). This judicial setting recalls Socrates's trial—both confronted civic authorities over spiritual truth.