In Acts 16 Paul finally made it to Europe, to Philippi of Macedonia. The first convert there was a woman named Lydia, who ended up being baptized along with her household. Some time later (v. 16):
And it happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a certain slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortunetelling.
It was a first-century case of human trafficking. But upon meeting Paul and his companions, she (or the spirit within her) cried out (v. 17):
These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.
Indeed, what she said under the control of the evil spirit was true – not unlike a number of such spirits whom Jesus encountered during His earthly ministry. But after continuing this for many days, it says that Paul was greatly annoyed, and commanded the spirit come out of her in Jesus’ name; and it came out immediately. When the girl’s exploiters saw their profits evaporate before their eyes, they dragged Paul and Silas before the city authorities and raised up a crowd to support their evil plot by claims of disturbing the peace and anti-Roman teaching on the part of the visitors. The result was that Paul and Silas were beaten with rods and then thrown into prison under guard and their feet placed in stocks.
When it says Paul was greatly annoyed, I have always assumed it was his annoyance at the slave-girl’s regular chants as though they were a form of taunting; and perhaps that was part of it. But I wonder if Paul also came to a point of being greatly annoyed (the idea of greatly disturbed or even grieved as in the KJ) as he realized the plight of this slave-girl being mercilessly taken advantage of by her handlers at the hand of Satan’s demons? God gave Paul the power to reverse this great wrong in Jesus’ name. We are not told what happened to this girl after her deliverance from bondage. Regardless, Paul did the right thing, and the evil, self-seeking hearts of the men of Philippi were further exposed. Sadly, it’s not hard to imagine a similar outcome in our own day where city officials punish good and reward evil. Do we have the courage to do what is right in the name of Jesus Christ even when it might mean suffering for doing so? 1 Peter 4:19 exhorts believers: Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.