Bible Dictionary

PYTHON

Angels & Spiritual Beings • New Testament
A Visit With Jesus
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A Python was associated with the supposed spirit of divination connected with the oracle at Delphi. In Acts, a slave girl possessed by such a spirit followed Paul until he cast it out.

Definition

Python was the name associated with the supposed spirit of inspiration connected with the oracle at Delphi. In the biblical account, the term describes the kind of spirit of divination attributed to a slave girl who followed Paul and his companions.

Biblical Usage

In Acts, a slave girl possessing a spirit of divination repeatedly followed Paul. The account identifies her supposed inspiration with a Python spirit, and Paul’s command resulted in her release from it.

Historical Background

Puthon or Putho was the oldest name of Delphi or the surrounding country, where the famous Delphic Oracle was located. “Pythian spirit” consequently became a general designation for the supposed source of diviners’ inspiration. The account also reflects a society in which the girl’s condition had commercial value to her owners.

Related Figures

Paul

Historical Bible Dictionaries

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>pi'-thon: Occurs only in Ac 16:16, where the Revised Version (British and American) reads, "a certain maid having a spirit of divination (margin "a spirit, a Python") met us." Puthon, or Putho, is the oldest name of Delphi (or the country about Delphi), in which was situated the famous Delphic Oracle. Consequently "Pythian spirit" came to be the generic title of the supposed source of inspiration of diviners, including the slave-girl of the account in Acts. Exactly what facts underlie the narrative it is rather hard to say, but it is evident that the girl was sincere in her conviction that she spoke with Pythian inspiration. Probably she represents some hysterical type, of none too strong mentality, whose confused utterances were taken as coming from some supernatural power. Impressed by Paul's personality, she followed him about, and, when his command came, was in a state of mind that had prepared her to obey it. The narrative, incidentally, gives an interesting sidelight on a society in which a girl with hysteria had a greater commercial value than she had after her cure.</p><p>See DIVINATION.</p><p>Burton Scott Easton</p>
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