When the power of God touches the economic structure of the powers at be, then the opposition is bound to come. These “owners” were to put it lightly upset at what Paul has done. Their hope was in this woman remaining possessed and making them money by telling fortunes. They did not care about this woman. All they cared about was the profit that she made them. Their god was money and they would do whatever it takes to worship at the feet of money even at the cost of this poor woman. So they were brought to the magistrates where beaten and thrown in prison. This all seems to have escalated rather quickly. We have to remember the spiritual battle that is being fought here. We saw that satan was trying to trick the people of the town by having this demon-possessed woman speak the truth about Paul. When God smashed that plan by delivering this woman then Satan had to escalate. When deception doesn’t work Satan’s toolbox gets a lot smaller and he instantly turns to persecution. If he cannot deceive the people of God from turning from the gospel then maybe he can beat it out of them. We do not want to overestimate Satan’s power, but we also cannot live like he doesn’t exist. Satan’s job is to steal, kill, and destroy and we need the power of God to deliver us from his attacks.