Twice Paul’s ministry brought him into direct confrontation with commercial interests. The first such incident took place at Philippi, the second at Ephesus. Both of these were Graeco-Roman cities with a materialistic western culture, different from that of the Orient. In the East there was a slower pace of life and a greater accommodation between religion and commerce. Jesus had often lashed out at the selfish rich and even physically drove the money changers from the temple without arousing the kind of resentment that Paul experienced.

The dramatic incident at Philippi started when a slave girl, a medium or psychic, became attached to the disciples. She followed them around, crying out after them until it got to the point where her constant presence became an annoyance. Possibly she was…