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Acts 19

And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.

Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

And all the men were about twelve.

And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.

And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:

So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

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.

And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

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.

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.

And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.

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.

So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.

And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.

For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;

Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.

Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:

So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.

And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.

And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.

And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.

Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.

And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.

But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?

Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.

For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.

Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.

But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.

For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.

And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

What does Acts 19:13 mean?

Explanation

Acts 19:13 describes an incident involving itinerant Jewish exorcists who attempted to use the name of Jesus to expel evil spirits from possessed individuals.

These exorcists were not followers of Christ but had heard of the powerful miracles performed by the apostle Paul in Jesus' name.

They sought to invoke Jesus' authority, as preached by Paul, believing it would give them power over evil spirits.

This verse highlights the misuse of spiritual authority and the recognition of the power associated with the name of Jesus, even by those not personally committed to His teachings.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

The passage comes from the Book of Acts, which details the spread of Christianity and the work of the Holy Spirit after Jesus' resurrection and ascension.

Acts 19 is set in the city of Ephesus, a major center of trade and religious practice in the Roman Empire, particularly known for the temple of Artemis.

During this time, it was common for exorcists and magicians to ply their trade, often using incantations, rituals, and the names of deities or spiritual figures believed to have power.

Jewish exorcists were known to use the name of God and other sacred words in their rites.

Theological Insights

Different theological viewpoints interpret this verse in varying ways:

Charismatic theology often acknowledges the reality and presence of demonic spirits, and this verse is sometimes cited as evidence of the importance of personal faith and authority when invoking the name of Jesus.
Mainstream Christian theology may focus on the sovereignty of God and the uniqueness of the apostolic era, emphasizing that the name of Jesus is not a magical formula but represents a relationship with Christ.
Critical scholarship might view the passage as indicative of early Christian identity, defining itself against other spiritual practices and beliefs of the time.

Practical Applications

This verse serves as a warning against attempting to manipulate spiritual power or authority for personal gain or without a genuine relationship with Jesus.

It demonstrates the necessity of faith and authenticity in spiritual practice.

For contemporary believers, it suggests that invoking the name of Jesus should be done with reverence, understanding, and a true connection to Him.

Cross-References

Acts 19:15-16 - And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 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.
James 2:19 - Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Mark 9:38-39 - And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbade him, because he followeth not us.

But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

Language Study

Key terms and phrases from this verse in its original Koine Greek context include:

"Vagabond Jews" (περιέρχομαι Ἰουδαῖοι - perierchomai Ioudaioi): This term indicates Jews who moved from place to place, possibly as traveling merchants or itinerant exorcists.
"Exorcists" (ἐξορκιστής - exorkistes): Derived from the verb "to adjure," indicating one who employs oaths or solemn charges to command spirits.
"We adjure" (ὁρκίζω - horkizō): To charge or bind with an oath, with a connotation of invoking authority to compel obedience.
"Name of the Lord Jesus" (ὄνομα τοῦ Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ - onoma tou Kyriou Iesou): Represents the invocation of the authority and power associated with Jesus Christ.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

During the period of the early church, various cultures such as the Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians engaged in magical practices, including exorcisms.

These frequently involved the invocation of powerful gods or spiritual entities.

The Jewish culture itself had a tradition of exorcism, as evidenced in the Hebrew Scriptures and extra-biblical texts.

Comparing these practices to the Christian approach reveals a marked difference in the authority and power behind the acts, Christian exorcism being rooted in the divine authority of Christ rather than ritual or formulaic incantations.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific standpoint, concepts of demonic possession and exorcism generally fall outside empirical study and are not supported by naturalistic explanations.

Modern psychology and medicine would typically interpret phenomena attributed to demonic possession as mental health issues, such as epilepsy or schizophrenia.

The events described in Acts 19:13, therefore, represent a worldview that incorporates supernatural elements beyond the scope of science.

commentaries

Commentaries on Acts 19:13 offer varied insights:

Traditional commentaries often focus on the distinction between the legitimate authority of the apostles and the presumptuous attempt of the exorcists to wield power they did not possess.
Critical commentaries might suggest that Luke, the author of Acts, included this story to highlight the superiority and authenticity of the Christian faith over other religious practices of the time, demonstrating the futility of using Jesus' name without belief.
Some modern evangelical commentaries reflect on the nature of spiritual warfare and the importance of being grounded in one's faith when confronting spiritual evil.

They may also emphasize the power of Jesus' name when used with reverence and a true relationship with Christ.

Acts 19

Acts 19

What does Acts 19:13 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 19:13 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?