The Meaning of Acts 16:17 Explained

Acts 16:17

KJV: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

YLT: she having followed Paul and us, was crying, saying, 'These men are servants of the Most High God, who declare to us a way of salvation;'

Darby: She, having followed Paul and us, cried saying, These men are bondmen of the Most High God, who announce to you the way of salvation.

ASV: The same following after Paul and us cried out, saying, These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim unto you the way of salvation.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The same  followed  Paul  and  us,  and cried,  saying,  These  men  are  the servants  of the most high  God,  which  shew  unto us  the way  of salvation. 

What does Acts 16:17 Mean?

Study Notes

most high God (See Scofield " Matthew 7:22 ") . This marks the "spirit", Acts 16:18 , as being a demon.
salvation See note, .
salvation
The Heb. and (Greek - ἀλεκτοροφωνία , safety, preservation, healing, and soundness). Salvation is the great inclusive word of the Gospel, gathering into itself all the redemptive acts and processes: as justification, redemption, grace, propitiation, imputation, forgiveness, sanctification, and glorification. Salvation is in three tenses:
(1) The believer has been saved from the guilt and penalty of sin Luke 7:50 ; 1 Corinthians 1:18 ; 2 Corinthians 2:15 ; Ephesians 2:5 ; Ephesians 2:8 ; 2 Timothy 1:9 and is safe.
(2) the believer is being saved from the habit and dominion of sin Romans 6:14 ; Philippians 1:19 ; Philippians 2:12 ; Philippians 2:13 ; 2 Thessalonians 2:13 ; Romans 8:2 ; Galatians 2:19 ; Galatians 2:20 ; 2 Corinthians 3:18 .
(3) The believer is to be saved in the sense of entire conformity to Christ. Romans 13:11 ; Hebrews 10:36 ; 1 Peter 1:5 ; 1 John 3:2 . Salvation is by grace through faith, is a free gift, and wholly without works; Romans 3:27 ; Romans 3:28 ; Romans 4:1-8 ; Romans 6:23 ; Ephesians 2:8 . The divine order is: first salvation, then works; Ephesians 2:9 ; Ephesians 2:10 ; Titus 3:5-8 .

Context Summary

Acts 16:14-24 - Welcomed Attested Imprisoned
This was an epoch-making moment, but how quietly it is recorded. There was no heralding of the gospel which was to transform Europe. The need for it was unspoken and unfelt. It stole in like the dawn.
Paul's first experiences in Europe were not promising. In most cities there was a Jewish synagogue; but here only a small group of pious women in an arbor by the riverside. Let none despise the day of small things. What a contrast between Lydia, who had come over from Asia Minor, and employed a number of hands in the dyeing trade, and the poor girl who was possessed by the demon! Yet each of them recognized the divine ministry of the newly arrived messengers. What a contrast, also, between the gradual response of Lydia's heart in the revelation of the risen Christ, to whom it opened as a flower to the sun, and the sudden awakening of the jailor!
When Christ touches the pockets of worldly men, He arouses their direct opposition. The world is troubled when it loses its gains; the saints are troubled when they see Christ's property being injured! See Acts 16:18. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 16

1  Paul and Silas are Joined by Timothy,
7  and being called by the Spirit from one country to another,
14  convert Lydia,
16  and cast out a spirit of divination;
19  for which cause they are whipped and imprisoned
25  The prison doors are opened
31  The jailor is converted,
35  and they are delivered

Greek Commentary for Acts 16:17

The Most High God [του τεου του υπσιστου]
Pagan inscriptions use this language for the Supreme Being. It looks like supernatural testimony like that borne by the demoniacs to Jesus as “son of the Most High God” (Luke 8:28. Cf; also Mark 1:24; Mark 3:11; Matthew 8:29; Luke 4:41, etc.). She may have heard Paul preach about Jesus as the way of salvation. [source]
The way of salvation [οδον σωτηριας]
A way of salvation, strictly speaking (no article). There were many “ways of salvation” offered to men then as now. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 16:17

Luke 23:55 Had come with him [ησαν συνεληλυτυιαι]
Periphrastic past perfect active of συνερχομαι — sunerchomai after Aorist active participle of κατακολουτεω — katakoloutheō an old verb, but in the N.T. only here and Acts 16:17. It is possible that they followed after Joseph and Nicodemus so that they “beheld the tomb,” First aorist passive indicative of τιτημι — tithēmi They may in fact, have witnessed the silent burial from a distance. The Syriac Sinaitic and the Syriac Curetonian give it thus: “and the women, who came with Him from Galilee went to the sepulchre in their footsteps, and saw the body when they had brought it in there.” At any rate the women saw “that” and “how” the body of Jesus was laid in this new tomb of Joseph in the rocks. [source]
Acts 9:2 Of this way [τῆς ὁδοῦ]
Rev., more correctly, “the way.” A common expression in the Acts for the Christian religion: “the characteristic direction of life as determined by faith on Jesus Christ” (Meyer). See Acts 19:9; Acts 22:4; Acts 24:22. For the fuller expression of the idea, see Acts 16:17; Acts 18:25. [source]
Acts 16:31 To be saved [ινα σωτω]
Final clause with ινα — hina and first aorist passive subjunctive. What did he mean by “saved”? Certainly more than escape from peril about the prisoners or because of the earthquake, though these had their influences on him. Cf. way of salvation in Acts 16:17. [source]
Acts 17:2 For three Sabbaths [επι σαββατα τρια]
Probably the reference is to the first three Sabbaths when Paul had a free hand in the synagogue as at first in Antioch in Pisidia. Luke does not say that Paul was in Thessalonica only three weeks. He may have spoken there also during the week, though the Sabbath was the great day. Paul makes it plain, as Furneaux shows, that he was in Thessalonica a much longer period than three weeks. The rest of the time he spoke, of course, outside of the synagogue. Paul implies an extended stay by his language in 1 Thessalonians 1:8. The church consisted mainly of Gentile converts (2 Thessalonians 3:4, 2 Thessalonians 3:7, 2 Thessalonians 3:8) and seems to have been well organized (1 Thessalonians 5:12). He received help while there several times from Philippi (Philemon 4:16) and even so worked night and day to support himself (1 Thessalonians 2:9). His preaching was misunderstood there in spite of careful instruction concerning the second coming of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12). Reasoned (διελεχατο — dielexato). First aorist middle indicative of διαλεγομαι — dialegomai old verb in the active to select, distinguish, then to revolve in the mind, to converse (interchange of ideas), then to teach in the Socratic (“dialectic”) method of question and answer (cf. διελεγετο — dielegeto in Acts 16:17), then simply to discourse, but always with the idea of intellectual stimulus. With these Jews and God-fearers Paul appealed to the Scriptures as text and basis (απο — apo) of his ideas. [source]
Acts 17:2 Reasoned [διελεχατο]
First aorist middle indicative of διαλεγομαι — dialegomai old verb in the active to select, distinguish, then to revolve in the mind, to converse (interchange of ideas), then to teach in the Socratic (“dialectic”) method of question and answer (cf. διελεγετο — dielegeto in Acts 16:17), then simply to discourse, but always with the idea of intellectual stimulus. With these Jews and God-fearers Paul appealed to the Scriptures as text and basis (απο — apo) of his ideas. [source]
Acts 9:2 Letters [επιστολας]
Julius Ceasar and Augustus had granted the high priest and Sanhedrin jurisdiction over Jews in foreign cities, but this central ecclesiastical authority was not always recognized in every local community outside of Judea. Paul says that he received his authority to go to Damascus from the priests (Acts 26:10) and “the estate of the elders” (Acts 22:5), that is the Sanhedrin. To Damascus (εις Δαμασκον — eis Damaskon). As if no disciples of importance (outside the apostles in Jerusalem) were left in Judea. Damascus at this time may have been under the rule of Aretas of Arabia (tributary to Rome) as it certainly was a couple of years later when Saul escaped in a basket (2 Corinthians 11:32). This old city is the most enduring in the history of the world (Knowling). It is some 150 miles Northeast from Jerusalem and watered by the river Abana from Anti-Lebanon. Here the Jews were strong in numbers (10,000 butchered by Nero later) and here some disciples had found refuge from Saul‘s persecution in Judea and still worshipped in the synagogues. Paul‘s language in Acts 26:11 seems to mean that Damascus is merely one of other “foreign cities” to which he carried the persecution. If he found Third class condition with aorist subjunctive retained after secondary tense (asked). The Way (της οδου — tēs hodou). A common method in the Acts for describing Christianity as the Way of life, absolutely as also in Acts 19:9, Acts 19:23; Acts 22:4; Acts 24:14, Acts 24:22 or the way of salvation (Acts 16:17) or the way of the Lord (Acts 18:25). It is a Jewish definition of life as in Isaiah 40:3 “the way of the Lord,” Psalm 1:6 “the way of the righteous,” “the way of the wicked.” Jesus called himself “the way” (John 14:6), the only way to the Father. The so-called Epistle of Barnabas presents the Two Ways. The North American Indians call Christianity the Jesus Road. That he might bring them bound Final clause with οπως — hopōs (less common than ινα — hina) and aorist (effective) subjunctive (αγαγηι — agagēi reduplicated aorist of αγω — agō common verb) and perfect passive participle (δεδεμενους — dedemenous) of δεω — deō in a state of sheer helplessness like his other victims both men and women. Three times (Acts 8:3; Acts 9:2; Acts 22:4) this fact of persecuting women is mentioned as a special blot in Paul‘s cruelty (the third time by Paul himself) and one of the items in his being chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). [source]
Acts 9:2 The Way [της οδου]
A common method in the Acts for describing Christianity as the Way of life, absolutely as also in Acts 19:9, Acts 19:23; Acts 22:4; Acts 24:14, Acts 24:22 or the way of salvation (Acts 16:17) or the way of the Lord (Acts 18:25). It is a Jewish definition of life as in Isaiah 40:3 “the way of the Lord,” Psalm 1:6 “the way of the righteous,” “the way of the wicked.” Jesus called himself “the way” (John 14:6), the only way to the Father. The so-called Epistle of Barnabas presents the Two Ways. The North American Indians call Christianity the Jesus Road. [source]
Acts 9:2 If he found [εαν ευρηι]
Third class condition with aorist subjunctive retained after secondary tense (asked). The Way (της οδου — tēs hodou). A common method in the Acts for describing Christianity as the Way of life, absolutely as also in Acts 19:9, Acts 19:23; Acts 22:4; Acts 24:14, Acts 24:22 or the way of salvation (Acts 16:17) or the way of the Lord (Acts 18:25). It is a Jewish definition of life as in Isaiah 40:3 “the way of the Lord,” Psalm 1:6 “the way of the righteous,” “the way of the wicked.” Jesus called himself “the way” (John 14:6), the only way to the Father. The so-called Epistle of Barnabas presents the Two Ways. The North American Indians call Christianity the Jesus Road. That he might bring them bound Final clause with οπως — hopōs (less common than ινα — hina) and aorist (effective) subjunctive (αγαγηι — agagēi reduplicated aorist of αγω — agō common verb) and perfect passive participle (δεδεμενους — dedemenous) of δεω — deō in a state of sheer helplessness like his other victims both men and women. Three times (Acts 8:3; Acts 9:2; Acts 22:4) this fact of persecuting women is mentioned as a special blot in Paul‘s cruelty (the third time by Paul himself) and one of the items in his being chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). [source]
2 Peter 2:2 By reason of whom [δι ους]
“Because of whom” (accusative case of relative, referring to πολλοι — polloi many). Αυτων — Autōn (their) refers to πσευδοδιδασκαλοι — pseudodidaskaloi (false teachers) while πολλοι — polloi to their deluded followers. See Romans 2:23. for a picture of such conduct by Jews (quotation from Isaiah 52:5, with βλασπημεω — blasphēmeō used as here with δι υμας — di' humas because of you).The way of truth (η οδος της αλητειας — hē hodos tēs alētheias). οδος — Hodos (way) occurs often in N.T. for Christianity (Acts 9:2; Acts 16:17; Acts 18:25; Acts 22:4; Acts 24:14). This phrase is in Genesis 24:48 as “the right road,” and that is what Peter means here. So Psalm 119:30. See again 2 Peter 2:15, 2 Peter 2:21. [source]
2 Peter 2:2 The way of truth [η οδος της αλητειας]
οδος — Hodos (way) occurs often in N.T. for Christianity (Acts 9:2; Acts 16:17; Acts 18:25; Acts 22:4; Acts 24:14). This phrase is in Genesis 24:48 as “the right road,” and that is what Peter means here. So Psalm 119:30. See again 2 Peter 2:15, 2 Peter 2:21. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 16:17 mean?

She having followed - Paul and us was crying out saying These - men servants of the God - Most High are who proclaim to you [the] way of salvation
αὕτη κατακολουθοῦσα τῷ Παύλῳ καὶ ἡμῖν ἔκραζεν λέγουσα Οὗτοι οἱ ἄνθρωποι δοῦλοι τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ Ὑψίστου εἰσίν οἵτινες καταγγέλλουσιν ὑμῖν ὁδὸν σωτηρίας

αὕτη  She 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
κατακολουθοῦσα  having  followed 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: κατακολουθέω  
Sense: to follow after.
τῷ  - 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Παύλῳ  Paul 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: Παῦλος  
Sense: Paul was the most famous of the apostles and wrote a good part of the NT, the 4 Pauline epistles.
ἡμῖν  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἔκραζεν  was  crying  out 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: κράζω  
Sense: to croak.
λέγουσα  saying 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
Οὗτοι  These 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
οἱ  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἄνθρωποι  men 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἄνθρωπος  
Sense: a human being, whether male or female.
δοῦλοι  servants 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: δοῦλοσ1 
Sense: a slave, bondman, man of servile condition.
τοῦ  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Θεοῦ  God 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
τοῦ  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ὑψίστου  Most  High 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Masculine Singular, Superlative
Root: ὕψιστος  
Sense: highest, most high.
καταγγέλλουσιν  proclaim 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: καταγγέλλω  
Sense: to announce, declare, promulgate, make known.
ὑμῖν  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
ὁδὸν  [the]  way 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ὁδός 
Sense: properly.
σωτηρίας  of  salvation 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: σωτηρία  
Sense: deliverance, preservation, safety, salvation.