Acts 16:16-18 Once it happened, during our going our way unto the place of prayer (= synagogue; or: the place devoted to imparting well-being and to speaking toward things being well), that a certain servant-girl (or: maid) – continuously holding a python spirit (or: repeatedly having a python breath-effect; = a serpent attitude and orientation; = an animistic practitioner; note: in Greek mythology, Python was a giant snake guarding the oracular sanctuary at Delphi until slain by the god Apollo; later, the term came to refer to divination, ventriloquism and oracular spirits) suddenly comes to meet with us (or: comes from under to confront us face to face), who, by habitually performing many acts of the craft of divining, fortune-telling and casting spells, had been consistently providing a steady source of income for her owners (or: masters; lords).

JMNT⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹⁶ Once it happened, during our going our way unto the place of prayer (= synagogue; or: the place devoted to imparting well-being and to speaking toward things being well), [that] a certain servant-girl (or: maid) – continuously holding a python spirit (or: repeatedly having a python breath-effect; = a serpent attitude and orientation; = an animistic practitioner; [note: in Greek mythology, Python was a giant snake guarding the oracular sanctuary at Delphi until slain by the god Apollo; later, the term came to refer to divination, ventriloquism and oracular spirits]) suddenly comes to meet with us (or: comes from under to confront us face to face), who, by habitually performing many acts of the craft of divining, fortune-telling and casting spells, had been consistently providing a steady source of income for her owners (or: masters; lords). ¹⁷ This girl, repeatedly following Paul and [the rest of] us down [to the river], kept on crying out and shrieking, constantly saying, "These people (or: humans) are slaves of the Most High God [= El Ha Elyon], who are constantly and progressively bringing the news down and are announcing to you folks [other MSS: to us] a way (or: path) of safety and deliverance (or: health, wholeness and salvation)." ¹⁸ Now she kept on doing this for many days. So, being thoroughly wearied and exasperated [from this], and finally turning around [toward her], Paul says to the breath-effect (or: spirit; or: said in and by the Breath-effect and Spirit), "I am now giving a directive to you (or: passing on an announcement for you) – within and in union with [the] Name of Jesus Christ (or: the Anointed Jesus) – to go out and away from her at once!" And thus, it went out that very (or: same) hour [D reads: it went out at once].