Definition: And 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:

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down that passage from Acts 16:16. It's a really interesting and slightly strange story! Here’s what it means in simple terms: The Basic Story: A Woman with a Problem: A woman was experiencing a serious problem – she was possessed by a spirit of divination (meaning she was getting answers to questions that weren't actually there). She Was Making Money: This spirit was causing her masters (people who were managing her) to get rich! She was predicting the future and making them very wealthy. The Apostles Intervened: The apostles – Jesus’s closest followers – saw this and realized it was a serious issue. Putting it Together - A Simplified Explanation: This verse describes a situation where someone was using a spirit (a ghost-like influence) to cheat and profit from others. It's essentially about fraud and manipulation . The spirits were causing harm by misleading people. What’s the Point? It highlights a key idea in the Bible: God Protects Us: The apostles weren't just reacting to this situation; they recognized that something was wrong and took action to stop it. Trust is Important: The verse shows us that we should be careful not to blindly trust predictions or anything that seems too good to be true. In short, it’s about dealing with people who are using deception. --- Would you like me to explain any of these points in more detail? For example, I could: Discuss the context of the story within the larger narrative of Acts. Talk about why this might be seen as a warning or a call for vigilance.