She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” ~ Acts 16:17
Here’s something wild from Acts 16 that most people completely overlook.
Paul and Silas were walking to a place of prayer in Philippi when a demon-possessed slave girl started following them. Not just some random heckler or curious bystander, but a girl controlled by what Scripture calls a spirit of divination (Acts 16:16). The Greek phrase literally says she had a “python spirit,” referring to the kind of demonic influence tied to pagan temples and false prophecy. Her masters were making money off her fortune-telling, and everyone in the area knew who she was.
But then something strange happened. She started shouting this:
“These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” (Acts 16:17)
That’s the truth. So why would a demon shout something that’s true?
Because even demons know who Jesus is (Mark 1:24, James 2:19), and they often use truth as a weapon. Not to glorify God, but to cause confusion. Her public shouting wasn’t helping, it was distracting. Picture it: someone known for being spiritually unclean is suddenly promoting Paul and Silas. People watching could easily assume Paul was part of the same occult mess, just with a different name. That kind of association would destroy credibility and twist the message before it could even be preached.
And that’s the enemy’s tactic, mix truth with confusion.
Paul didn’t thank her. He didn’t entertain it. He tolerated it for several days, then, deeply troubled, he turned and said:
“I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” (Acts 16:18)
And instantly, it did.
This wasn’t some random interruption. It was spiritual warfare. The girl was saying the right words, but it was the wrong spirit. And Paul, led by the Holy Spirit, was not about to let demonic influence promote the gospel.
This moment reveals something important: not every voice quoting truth is of God.
The devil quoted Scripture to Jesus in Matthew 4:6. Demons often confessed who Jesus was in the Gospels, but Jesus never allowed them to speak long. Why? Because God’s truth is never meant to come from a corrupt source.
That’s why 1 John 4:1 tells us, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God.”
We need to test the source, not just listen to the sound of the words. Is the message pointing people to repentance, to faith in Christ, and to the authority of God’s Word? Or is it stirring chaos, pride, or emotional confusion?
The girl in Acts 16 said the right thing, but her voice was being used to hinder, not help. And Paul shut it down.
Truth spoken from the wrong spirit is still dangerous.
God’s truth brings light and clarity, not spiritual confusion or manipulation. If you’re sharing the gospel or listening to others preach, stay rooted in Scripture. Be bold, be faithful, and above all, be discerning.
Want to dig deeper into spiritual deception, discernment, and biblical truth? Start with these:
2 Corinthians 11:14 – Satan disguises himself as an angel of light
Matthew 7:15 – Beware of false prophets who come in sheep’s clothing
Galatians 1:8 – Even if an angel preaches another gospel, let him be accursed
Hebrews 5:14 – Mature believers have their senses trained to discern good and evil
The enemy doesn’t always oppose with lies. Sometimes he hijacks the truth to poison it. Don’t fall for it. Test everything by the Word of God.
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