Acts 16:19 (KJV)

What does Acts 16:19 mean?

Acts 16:19 describes how the owners of a slave girl, who had just lost her ability to make them money, became angry and seized Paul and Silas, dragging them into the public square to face the local authorities. The verse shows the immediate reaction of the girl's masters when they realized their source of profit was gone.

In this scene, Paul and Silas are in Philippi, where they have just cast a spirit out of a slave girl who made money for her owners by fortune-telling. The girl's owners, seeing their financial gain disappear, grab Paul and Silas and bring them before the city rulers in the marketplace, setting the stage for the conflict that follows in the story.

The Greek behind Acts 16:19

• The word for "masters" is κύριοι (kurioi), which means "lords" or "owners." This highlights the power these men had over the slave girl and their interest in her only as a source of profit.
• The word for "gains" is ἐργασία (ergasia), meaning "profits" or "business." The Greek here emphasizes that their main concern was economic loss, not the girl's well-being.
• The word for "marketplace" is ἀγορά (agora), referring to the central public area where legal and civic matters were handled. This shows that the owners wanted to make a public accusation and involve the authorities immediately.

Why Acts 16:19 matters

• Acts 16:19 clarifies that the opposition to Paul and Silas was driven by financial motives, not religious or moral concerns.
• The verse sets up the legal trouble Paul and Silas will face, showing how economic interests can quickly turn into public accusations.
• This moment connects to the wider passage by explaining why Paul and Silas are about to be put on trial and eventually imprisoned, highlighting the cost of their ministry in Philippi.