NOTES for Act 16:16-40
Today's reading helps us better understand the motives of those who, in our world that has not yet been transfigured, oppose the Kingdom and God's action. Luke's account concerns a “prophesying” servant girl (v. 16). Such soothsayers, prone to ecstatic fits, were not uncommon in antiquity—as, indeed, at all other times. These ecstatic individuals were often genuinely possessed, as proved to be the case here (vv. 17–18). When the girl was healed, her masters were enraged at losing a source of income (v. 19). Apparently, they knew nothing of the Kingdom and were not thinking about it at all; they saw the apostles simply as an obstacle to their business. But to get rid of them, they had to accuse them of something serious, such as undermining the foundations of Roman society, and that is what they did (vv. 19–20). Of course, the accusers had no intention of examining the substance of the apostles' preaching: apparently, all Jews looked alike to them. The authorities, however, were not particularly interested in the details either: they found it easier to punish the accused than to conduct a proper, thorough investigation of the charges (vv. 22–24).
Only God's direct intervention changed the situation: an earthquake occurred during the night, which in antiquity, among all peoples without exception, was a sign of the anger of higher powers (vv. 25–26). This was probably what made the authorities look more closely at what was happening. The prisoners' own conduct certainly contributed a great deal: they made no attempt to escape, which evidently made an enormous impression on the member of the prison guard assigned to them (vv. 27–32). Yet even a sign from above brings no fundamental change in the authorities' position: only one person is converted, while the officials try to let the matter quietly drop (vv. 35–36). Those who have been punished, however, do not let them do so: what happened has already become public and can itself serve as a witness. It is hardly surprising that the apostles do not want to miss such an opportunity (vv. 37–40).
It turns out that those who oppose the Kingdom do not do so on grounds of principle. Some do not want to lose their profits; others do not want extra trouble; and all take cover behind the interests of the state. The result is that both groups stand in the way of the witnesses to the Kingdom. But God can turn any situation into a testimony, provided the witnesses themselves are ready for such a turn of events. Then every persecution ends in the triumph of the Kingdom as it enters the world.