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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 19:16 mean?

Explanation

Acts 19:16 describes an incident that occurred in the city of Ephesus where seven Jewish exorcists, sons of Sceva, attempted to cast out demons by invoking the name of Jesus Christ.

These men were not followers of Christ but saw the power His name wielded when used by Paul and others.

They attempted to use it for their own ends.

The demon-possessed man they confronted recognized Jesus and Paul but not the exorcists, and the evil spirit within the man gave him the strength to overpower the seven brothers.

The result was that the men were beaten, stripped of their clothing, and fled the house, visibly wounded and humiliated.

The deeper meaning here touches on the authority and power inhering in the name of Christ, and it implies that spiritual authority cannot be appropriated without a genuine relationship and faith in Jesus Christ.

It also serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of engaging with the spiritual realm without the protection and authority of true faith.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

The Book of Acts was composed by the author of the Gospel of Luke and is believed to have been written around 62-70 AD.

Acts 19 is part of the narrative describing Paul's ministry in Asia Minor, with Ephesus as a central location for his missionary work.

Ephesus was a significant city in the Roman Empire and was known for its temple to Artemis, making it a key religious and cultural center.

At the time, there was a mix of various religious practices and a belief in magic and spirit possession.

Jewish exorcists were not uncommon, and they often used the names of higher powers in their attempts to cast out evil spirits. The sons of Sceva were engaging in a common practice of the day, but without the genuine belief and authority that came from faith in Jesus Christ.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse illustrates the uniqueness of the authority of Jesus Christ and suggests that this authority cannot be effectively used by those who do not believe in Him.

It reinforces the idea of spiritual warfare and the reality of demonic forces, a concept present in many Christian traditions.

Different viewpoints within Christianity may emphasize various aspects of this passage.

Some charismatic and Pentecostal theologians focus on the power of spiritual authority, while others may use this passage to discuss the importance of sincerity in faith, holding that an outward profession of faith without true belief is ineffective and potentially dangerous.

Practical Applications

The practical application of Acts 19:16 can influence believers to understand that their authority over spiritual matters comes from a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ.

It cautions against treating the name of Christ, and by extension Christianity, as a tool for personal gain or influence.

It also can serve as a warning to not dabble in spiritual practices that are outside the boundaries of one’s faith.

Moreover, it encourages believers to have a firm foundation in their understanding of spiritual authority before engaging in spiritual warfare or deliverance ministries.

It serves as a reminder to equip oneself with knowledge of the Scriptures and deep-rooted faith to stand firm against spiritual challenges.

Cross-References

Luke 10:17: "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name."
Acts 16:18: "And this did she many days.

But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.

And he came out the same hour."

James 2:19: "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble."

Language Study

In the Greek text, the word for "leaped on" (ephallomenos) carries a sense of sudden violence.

The term "overcame" (katakurieusen) points to a dominance or mastery over someone.

The word "prevailed" (ischusen) indicates an exhibition of power or force. This linguistic choice emphasizes the violent struggle and the power imbalance between the man with the evil spirit and the exorcists.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In cultural and religious comparisons, the name of Jesus is seen to have power similar to how names of gods or spiritual entities were believed to have inherent power in other ancient religions.

Incantations and the use of divine names were a feature of many religious practices in the surrounding cultures.

Comparing it to ancient myths, some stories include humans attempting to utilize the names of gods or magical formulas to control supernatural forces, often with disastrous results, paralleling the outcome for the sons of Sceva.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the understanding of mental health, psychology, and neurological disorders, offers explanations for behavior that would have been attributed to demonic possession in ancient times.

Today’s interpretations of such behavior might include epilepsy, schizophrenia, or other psychological conditions that can result in episodes of extreme strength and violent outbursts.

However, a scientific approach to this verse is largely an interpretative endeavor since it deals primarily with religious and spiritual experiences which are inherently subjective and not easily measured or analyzed through empirical methods.

Commentaries

Commentators have long been intrigued by Acts 19:16.

Many agree that the narrative demonstrates the importance of genuine Christian faith for spiritual authority.

For instance, John Calvin emphasizes the folly of using God's name presumptuously.

Matthew Henry’s commentary highlights the man's recognition of Jesus and Paul, but not the exorcists, as a key factor in their failure.

Contemporary commentaries often expand on the nature of spiritual warfare and the risks of engaging with dark spiritual forces without proper faith and protection.

Acts 19

Acts 19

What does Acts 19:16 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 19:16 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?