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Bible Studies/acts 16:16
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Question
Why was the girl exhorted by Paul if it appears that she was giving God the honor and glory.
Hi Bernardo, I apologize for the delay in responding. As we consider this passage in its context, several things come to mind. The first is reflected by your question, "What was it about this girl that annoyed Paul?" Little is said about her. It may be that she was known in the community and not the type of person that Paul thought would advance the interests of the gospel. Perhaps she was a "loose" woman who was still behaving loosely.
When I worked as a prison chaplain, we had problems with active homosexuals who wanted to sing praises to God in the choir. Other Christian men found this troubling, believing that these very effeminate men who were still whoring around the prison reflected poorly on the chapel program and Christianity.
The passage indicates that the men who used this girl to make money were very angry when they realized that their profits would dry up. It is certainly possible, perhaps probable, that after the spirit left this girl, she became a Christian. Jesus rebuked unclean spirits and those people who harbored them were converted.
If you give some thought and prayer to this passage, you may come up with a better answer than I have provided. God is able and willing to personally teach each one of us.
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I will gladly respond to questions on perfection, sanctification, justification, the seal of God, and the nature of Christ. I can also help people understand issues related to the ceremonial law and Decalogue in the New Testament. As an SDA, I read more than fifty of Ellen G. White's books in their entirety. I can answer questions about Adventism, from the perspective of a well read member for more than thirty years. Martin Luther's treatise, "The Freedom of a Christian Man" is one of my favorite Christian writings. If I am not comfortable answering a specific question, I will try to refer you to a good resource.
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I was a Seventh day Adventist for more than thirty years.I have a special interest in the doctrines of justification, perfection, and the nature of Christ. I have spent the last several years in China and continue to live there.
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I studied theology as an undergraduate and briefly attended seminary. I discovered, as a seminary student, that the most important learning takes place outside of the classroom.
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Community chaplain at California State Prison, Sacramento.
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