Introduction: This episode took place after Paul had begun a healing ministry, sending aprons or handkerchiefs to people who needed them (Acts 19:11-12). Note, this was a one-time occurrence, never repeated anywhere else in the Bible so far as I can determine.
Someone once remarked that what the Lord initiates, the devil imitates. That happened here, when some so-called “exorcists” tried to cast out a demon. They got more than they bargained for, and as a result, Ephesus saw a lot of people make heart-felt decisions.
Text: Acts 19:13-20, KJV: 13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. 14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. 19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
Thoughts:
1 The deeds of the sons of Sceva
--“Vagabond” meant wandering or going from place to place. The word has changed meanings from the 1600’s to these days. In those days, Jews had settled in many parts of the known world, from Elam (modern day Iran) to Rome to Arab lands (see Acts 2). These men may have wandered from and to anywhere Jews could be found.
--There were seven sons of a Sceva, a Jew and “chief of the priests”. Opinions vary among commentators as to what this means: several think he was one of the heads of one of the 24 courses of priests; a few, that Sceva or his sons called him a “chief priest”.
--The ‘charge” or command to the demon was “We adjure (command you to leave) by Jesus Whom Paul preaches.” Many comments are possible; one, that these men may have heard of genuine apostles casting out demons, two, they may have thought that since the name of Jesus was enough, they could use it too; there could be more.
--Demon possession was and is real, and clearly so in the days when our Lord walked this earth. He himself had cast out many demons: e.g. the man with the “legion”, (Luke 8:30); and the man in Capernaum’s synagogue (Mark 1:21-28). The 70 disciples likewise did this, rejoicing with Jesus when this happened (Luke 10:17). Others did so, too, and John, of all people, was upset that someone who wasn’t part of the Twelve was casting out demons (see Mark 9:38-41). That some could not cast out demons is clear, as well (Mark 9:28-29).
--We don’t know if all seven “exorcists” commanded the evil spirit to leave or only one, maybe as spokesman for the group. At any rate, the words were spoken and these “exorcists” probably waited to see what would happen.
--Something happened, all right, and the next few verses explain this.
2 The deeds of the evil spirit
--The first thing the demon did was ask a question: “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” This proves demons/evil spirits have intellect, the power of speech, and possibly more.
--The KJV doesn’t show the difference in the original language between the two words translated “know” in verse 15. First, the spirit said “I know Jesus”, using the word “I recognize” or “I perceive”, for example, per https://biblehub.com/greek/1097.htm Then the spirit said, “I know (about or of) Paul”, using a completely different word, per https://biblehub.com/greek/1987.htm
--Then the spirit asked a question that probably would have chilled me to the bone, “Who are you?” There could be any number of applications but one seems obvious to me: the “exorcists” had just run into something or someone they could not control nor command!
--After this, the man—still possessed by the evil spirit—leaped on the seven men and “overcame” them. The seven “exorcists” fled out of the house naked (most likely meaning they had left their outer garments inside the house) and wounded!
--Word spread about this and there was an effect on many people in Ephesus.
3 The deeds of the repentant Ephesians
--When the Jews and the Greeks heard about this, they were afraid: “fear fell on them all”.
--In addition to this, the Name of Jesus was magnified. Compare the use of the Name of Jesus as used by the “exorcists” and their results (!) with the way His Name was magnified at this time.
--Some who had believed (verse 18; note the tense of the verb, per the notes found in https://biblehub.com/text/acts/19-18.htm) seemed to still be practicing some questionable, at best, activities. To their credit, they confessed and showed their deeds—in a word, they decided to renounce these questionable activities.
--Another group used “curious arts (Dr. A. T. Robertson has excellent comments at https://godrules.net/library/robert/robertact19.htm)” which may be the same as black magic or similar practices.
These at least brought their “books” together and burned them completely.
--The monetary value, 50,000 “pieces of silver”, could be a reference to the Greek drachma or Latin denarius (Robertson, https://godrules.net/library/robert/robertact19.htm). Each coin was worth a day’s pay. One preacher said of this text that it was the original “million dollar bonfire”!
--In some cases, there is only one remedy for evil things and that is destruction. Filthy books, magazines, pictures, song lyrics and the like should have no place in the life of any believer. Another preacher once stated that nobody who plays with the power of evil should expect much power with God—it’s got to be one or the other.
--Conclusion: demon possession is real and believers have the power to cast out demons. Believers also have the temptation to use, practice, consult, and other things that really we should have nothing to do with. When we renounce these things, then we can expect the blessings of the Lord to return. May we be careful to honor the Lord in ALL that we do,
Scripture quotations taken from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV).
