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(4)
When Athens was visited, the city of the world's wisdom, the name of the Lord
was confused with those of the demons that played a prominent part in Greek
idolatry, for the philosophers said: "He seemeth to be a setter-forth of strange
demons" (Acts 17: 18).
(5)
At the separation of the church from the synagogue, we read that "certain
vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil
spirits the name of the Lord Jesus". These men were overpowered and
wounded (Acts 19: 13-16).
There is no reason to doubt that "Python" was simply another name for "that old
Serpent, the Devil", and the Apostle was not going beyond his experience when he spoke
the comforting words of Rom. 16: 20: "The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your
feet shortly."
We observe here--for our learning and warning--that this demon-possessed woman
spoke words of truth. No fault can be found with her statement: "These men are the
servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation" (Acts 16: 17).
This was certainly true, and the God Who sent them is given His true place and title.
"The Most High God" is a title used elsewhere in the Acts by Stephen (Acts 7: 48).
They were also truly described as "servants" on their own confession, for Paul uses the
same word (doulos) again and again to define his own position as "a servant of Jesus
Christ" (Rom. 1: 1). There are but five words used in the original for the phrase: "Which
show unto us the way of salvation", and we believe it would be difficult for the wisest
Christian to express in five words a truer and fuller synopsis of apostolic witness. The
word "show" here is kataggello, used in Acts 13: 5, 38 & 15: 36 and elsewhere for
Paul's "preaching". Also, the use of the word "Way" as a symbol of the gospel is
masterly; the same word is used elsewhere in Acts 9: 2; 13: 10; 18: 26; 19: 9, 23;
22: 4 and 24: 14. Here, then, we have a perfect presentation of truth. The Apostle
and his companions are "servants", the One they serve is "The Most High God", and their
great work is "to show unto us the way of salvation". Yet we read that the Apostle was
grieved and commanded the spirit, in the name of Jesus Christ, to come out of the
women--"And he came out the same hour." Satan has no conscience and no honour. He
will persecute, imprison, and kill, or, on the other hand, he will quote Scripture and utter
the most irreproachable commendation of the gospel and its messengers, but he has but
one end--to deceive, to corrupt, to keep the Son of God, if possible, from His rightful
throne.
As servants of the most high God, we must look deeper than the surface before we
allow anyone to involve our ministry with theirs. They may give an unimpeachable
testimony to the Truth, they may appear to be ministers of righteousness, and yet, all the
time, they may be like the false apostles and emissaries of him who, for his own ends,
comes as an "angel of light". The Apostles here was evidently sensible of "Satan's
devices" and would not allow his ministry to be thus compromised. We are not, of
course, endowed with any supernatural gift of infallibility, and there is a possibility that,
at times, our concern for the sacred trust committed to us, may have caused us to refuse
some proffered fellowship that would have been helpful. If this should have been so, He