Acts 16:18

‘And this she did for many days.'

The party may not have been too aware of it at first. If the streets were noisy and busy they may not have taken too much notice of what she cried and thought of her as just some poor mad girl, seeing it wise to ignore her. It would not be the first time they had been yelled at. There were many strange people about. And as her mouth never moved they might have found it difficult to identify where the cries were coming from. It was just the kind of thing that a heckler might yell. It was best ignored.

‘But Paul, being sore troubled, turned and said to the spirit, “I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.'

But at some stage Paul became distressed at her activity, and it took a lot to upset Paul. It may be that it had come to his notice that people were saying things and that it was getting them a bad reputation. Lydia may have mentioned that the girl was well known and have gathered from comments that she was hindering the ministry. Or it may be that he had gradually identified the source of the cries, and from being used to them had come to a point of feeling sorry for her, and upset at her condition. Or it may be that God brought home to him the power of evil at work through the girl. It is not really likely that he was just annoyed because he was exasperated. Something deeper than that is called for here, something sufficient to make him decide to confront this spirit. It is the first time we actually learn of him seeking to cast out an evil spirit, and while it had no doubt happened (compare the signs and wonders of Acts 14:3; Acts 15:12. But there they ‘laid hands on' people and spirits were never dealt with in that way) it was not something he was constantly used to. But now he felt impelled, and turning, ordered the spirit to come out of her.

Once he did really become aware of the details of the situation, he would recognise that he must enable all to see that this spirit was indeed contrary to Jesus and His ways. He could not allow anyone to be in doubt that this spirit must not be seen as having Jesus' approval in any way, and could not even be accepted as being a rival or as having a parallel ministry. It had to be made clear once and for all that this spirit, and all like it, were in total contrast with Jesus. Thus he cast it out in the Name of Jesus Christ, thus stressing the total opposition of the One to the other, and revealing that Jesus was more powerful than Apollo.

So in the end Paul turned to the spirit and charged it in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of the woman. And to everyone's astonishment the spirit came out and she was made whole. They had never experienced anything like it before, not with a girl empowered by the Python. Thus here in Philippi the power of the name of Jesus Christ was seen to be as effective as in Galilee and Judaea in the subjugation of evil spirits. They were just as much subject to Him in Europe as in Palestine. One blessing would come from this among many. We need not doubt that here was another candidate for the infant church in Philippi.