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JULY 11
DAY 10: How did Lydia and the demon-possessed girl in Philippi
respond differently to the gospel?

When Paul arrived in Philippi (Acts 16:12), evidently the Jewish community did not have the
minimum of 10 Jewish men who were heads of households required to form a synagogue. In such
cases,a place of prayer under the open sky and near a river or sea was adopted as a meeting place.
Most likely this spot was located where the road leading out of the city crossed the Gangites River.
Paul spoke “to the women who met there”(v.13).In further evidence of the small number of Jewish
men,it was women who met to pray,read from the Old Testament law,and discuss what they read.
Lydia was from the city of Thyatira,which was located in the Roman province of Lydia,thus the
name “Lydia” was probably associated with her place of origin. She was a “seller of purple” (v. 14).
Because purple dye was extremely expensive, purple garments were usually worn by royalty and
the wealthy. As a result, Lydia’s business turned a nice profit, which enabled her to have a house
large enough to accommodate the missionary team (v. 15) and the new church at Philippi (v. 40).
“Who worshiped God.” Like Cornelius, she believed in the God of Israel but had not become a full
proselyte (10:2).The Lord opened her heart, and she and her household were baptized.
Also in Philippi was a slave girl “possessed with a spirit of divination”(v. 16), literally,“a python
spirit.”That expression comes from Greek mythology. Python was a snake that guarded the oracle
at Delphi.Essentially,this girl was a medium in contact with demons who could supposedly predict
the future.For several days she followed Paul and rightly cried out in the streets,“These men are the
servants of the Most High God”(v. 17). El Elyon, the Absolutely Sovereign God, is an Old Testament
title (used about 50 times) for the God of Israel (Gen. 14:18–22; Ps. 78:35; Dan. 5:18). But the spirit was
wrong, and Paul finally turned and said to the spirit,“I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to
come out of her” (v. 18). The demon left the girl in obedience to Paul’s command and his apostolic
authority.The ability to cast out demons was a special ability of Christ’s apostles (Mark 3:15;2 Cor.12:12).

taught in Judah, and had the Book of the Law of
July 11 the cities of Judah and taught the people.
the LORD with them; they went throughout all
10 And the fear of the LORD fell on all the king-
doms of the lands that were around Judah, so
2 Chronicles 17:1–18:34
that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat.
Then Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his 11 Also some of the Philistines brought Jehosh-
17 place, and strengthened himself against aphat presents and silver as tribute; and the
Israel. And he placed troops in all the fortified Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand
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cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of seven hundred rams and seven thousand
Judah and in the cities of Ephraim which Asa seven hundred male goats.
his father had taken. Now the LORD was with 12 So Jehoshaphat became increasingly pow-
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Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the former erful, and he built fortresses and storage cities
ways of his father David; he did not seek the in Judah. He had much property in the cities
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Baals, but sought the God of his father, and of Judah; and the men of war, mighty men of
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walked in His commandments and not accord- valor, were in Jerusalem.
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ing to the acts of Israel. Therefore the LORD 14 These are their numbers, according to their
established the kingdom in his hand; and all
Judah gave presents to Jehoshaphat, and he
had riches and honor in abundance. And his
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heart took delight in the ways of the LORD;
moreover he removed the high places and 17:3–9 Jehoshaphat made three strategic
wooden images from Judah. moves, spiritually speaking: 1) he obeyed the
Also in the third year of his reign he sent
7 Lord (17:3–6);2) he removed false worship from
his leaders, Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, the land (17:6);and 3) he sent out teachers who
taught the people the Law of the Lord (17:7–9).
Nethanel, and Michaiah, to teach in the cities
of Judah. And with them he sent Levites: 17:12,13 These verses indicate the massive
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Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, wealth that developed under divine blessing
Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, (18:1),as well as formidable military power (vv.
and Tobadonijah—the Levites; and with them 14–19).
Elishama and Jehoram, the priests. So they
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