Bible Study series: Acts 19:13-20. When I first read that believers were the ones who needed to renounce the occult, I realized how important discipleship is.
Friendly greetings and a warm welcome to this Bible study! I write to learn. Let’s learn together and apply these truths to our lives.
I also translate to learn, so the translations are mine, unless otherwise noted. If you would like to see many others, please click on this link:
At the link to the original post, next, I write more commentary and dig a little deeper into the Greek. I also offer a section titled Observations for Discipleship at the end. Check it out!
In this post, links are provided in the commentary section for further study.
Let’s begin.
Scripture: Acts 19:13-20
13 Then certain wandering Jewish exorcists attempted to name the name of the Lord Jesus over those having evil spirits, saying, “I order you by Jesus whom Paul preaches!” 14 Seven sons of a certain Scaeva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 The evil spirit retorted and said to them, “I know Jesus and I am acquainted with Paul, but who are you?” 16 And the man in whom was the evil spirit assaulted them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled naked and wounded from that house.
17 This became known to everyone, both Jews and Greeks, who lived in Ephesus, and a great awe fell upon everyone, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 Many people who believed were coming and confessing and disclosing their occultic practices. 19 Many practicing occultic magic brought and burned their scrolls in front of everyone. They calculated the amount and came up with 50,000 silver drachmas.
20 And so the word of the Lord mightily increased and prevailed. (Acts 19:13-20)
Comments:
This passage is about how the kingdom of God takes down Satanic evil. In the next (long) passage, we see that the kingdom of God opposes false religion. Eventually, Christianity will supplant the religion of Artemis. By the power of the Spirit and miracles, Paul is the one that launched it.
13-14:
“chief priest”: he was probably not a member of high priestly family, but this title was his own designation, to receive more cachet or a stronger reputation among ordinary people (Bruce, comment on vv. 14-16). Other scholars say he may have been a Jewish chief priest or member of a chief priestly family in a remote way here in Ephesus. Polhill says he may have belonged to a high priestly “circle.” As usual, I agree with Bruce.
The verses that come to mind are Matt. 7:21-23:
21 Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one doing the will of my Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name? And in your name expel demons? And in your name do many miracles?” 23 And then I’ll declare to them, “I never knew you! Depart from me, you practitioners of lawlessness!” (Matt. 7:21-23)
I can’t say the seven sons fit perfectly in this category of fake disciples, but they come close, to illustrate how miracle workers can go off track.
“attempted”: it could literally be translated as “put their hand to” or “plied their hand to.” It could be translated as “Then certain wandering Jewish exorcists put their hand to naming the name of the Lord Jesus ….” But I can’t go literal all the time.
“having evil spirits”: “Demonized” is not the only verb to express a demonic attack (see Mark 3:22, 30; 7:25; 9:17; Luke 4:33; 7:33; 8:27; Acts 8:7; 16:16; 19:13). But I see no substantive difference between the two verbs and are used interchangeably in Luke 8:27, 36. What is more relevant is the soul of the person being attacked and how deep the attack goes because the person gives the demon access.
“name”: “name the name” could be better translated as “invoke the name.” See v. 5 for a closer look at the word name.
Bruce: “The closest parallel to the Ephesian exorcists’ misuse of the name of Jesus appears in a magical papyrus belonging to the Bibliothèque Nationale [National Library] in Paris , which contains the adjuration: ‘I adjure you by Jesus, the God of the Hebrews’” (comment on v. 13). Polhill provides another example: “Hail, God of Abraham, hail, God of Isaac, hail, God of Jacob, Jesus Chrestus, Holy Spirit, Son of the Father” (comment on v. 13).
15:
“know”: The verb is so common that it is used 222 times in the NT.
“acquainted”: Here are two different Greek verbs, and the second one could also be translated as “recognize.”
“But when they tried to use it [the name of Jesus], like an unfamiliar weapon wrongly handled, it exploded in their hands” (Bruce, comment on vv. 14-16). Perfectly said.
Evil spirits can talk through their human vessels. There are simply too many reliable reports circulating around the church to deny it, particularly when there is a Scriptural foundation.
See my posts about Satan in the area of systematic theology:
Bible Basics about Satan and Demons and Victory Over Them
Bible Basics about Deliverance
Magic, Witchcraft, Sorcery, and Fortunetelling
16:
Demons recognize Jesus: “Also, demons came out of many, crying out and saying, ‘You are the Son of God! Rebuking them, he would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Messiah (Luke 4:41). Also: “When he [the Gadarene demoniac] saw Jesus, he screamed and fell down before him, and with a loud voice he said, ‘Why are you interfering with us, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you not to torment me!’” (Luke 8:28). “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder” (James 2:19).
“assaulted”: it used only here in the NT. It means to “leap upon” or “jump,” or “assault.” So the man, empowered by the evil spirit, jumped the seven men.
“subdued”: it means to become master, gain dominion over, subdue” or dominate. It is used here and in Matt. 20:25; Mark 10:42; 1 Pet. 5:3.
“overpowered”: it means, depending on the context, “be strong, powerful, win out, prevail” It is clear that the demon-empowered human beat up seven men.
An evil spirit manifested through a human body can overpower and subdue seven men. Always depend on the Spirit and Jesus’s name to have authority over a demon. You don’t have to fear a physical attack.
“name”: you have to know him and live in him, and then his name is authoritative and powerful—more powerful and authoritative than Satan’s name. See v. 5 for a closer look.
17:
“awe”: It is the Greek noun phobos (pronounced foh-bohss). The NT authors like this word, using the verb and noun and adjectives (and emphobos, pronounced as it looks) 151 times. It has a wide range of meanings, depending on the context. Here the supernatural occurrence put the fear of God in the people of Ephesus. It must have happened long before the riot (vv. 29-34), because the crowds were emboldened to run amok.
One more word about the fear of God and the church: when the church “fears” the Lord, it does not cower dread and run away, but they are supposed to feel a reverential awe, which speaks of being inspired by an atmosphere charged with the tangible or felt presence of the Holy Spirit. Awe and intimacy go together with the Creator of the universe.
“was magnified”: it is clear that mega– (“great”) is built into it. The Latin equivalent is magnus, so translators often choose “magnify.” Too bad we don’t have in English “greatify”! We can say the longer “render his name great!”
“The news of this incident spread so quickly and filled those who heard it with awe; this name, invoked by Paul and his colleagues with such beneficial effects, was plainly no name to be trifled with” (Bruce comment on v. 17).
18:
It is amazing that believers could still be involved in the occult. They needed to repent and grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. They were in the balance, being weighed. Recall the Parable of the Sower:
11 “This is the meaning of the parable:
The seed is the word of God. 12 The ones along the path: they heard it; then the devil comes and takes the word from their hearts, so that they might not believe and be saved. 13 The ones on the rocky ground: they receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root; they believe for a time, but in the time of testing, they fall away. 14 The ones falling among the thorn bushes: they have heard, but as they go, they are choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life, and they do not produce mature fruit. 15 The ones in the good soil: after hearing the word with a truly good heart, they hold on to it and produce fruit by endurance.” (Luke 8:11-15, emphasis added)
These Ephesian believers seemed to have progressed beyond the first type of soil, because they repented. So the devil did not take the seed out of their heart. Good thing! Let’s hope they maintained the fourth type of soil and produced fruit by lasting a long time, by enduring through thick and thin, highs and lows, by running the marathon race, not a 100-meter sprint.
False religions and occultic practices are dangerous spiritually. It can lead to demonic attacks on believers and outright possession for unbelievers. Believers can be demonized or attacked and harassed, but not possessed, because the Holy Spirit occupies their hearts. However, since unbelievers do not have the Holy Spirit occupying their hearts, an evil spirit can move in.
This is now revival in Ephesus. In any case, repentance demands an action. It cannot be just hidden away in the heart. The Ephesians brought out their books and exposed and disclosed them to the open light of the sun and the light of the Son. Sometimes we have to confess and expose our habits and sins, particularly the extra-destructive ones.
“occultic practices”: it simply means “practice” “activity,” “function” or “act” or “action,” or “deed.” Even the Book of Acts has the word in its title. The word occultic comes from the context.
19:
“occultic magic”: it is the plural noun of the noun periergos (pronounced peh-ree-air-gohss), and it literally means “peripheral works.” It was out-of-the-ordinary works. I get “occultic magic” from the context.
Notice how the people brought the scrolls personally and voluntarily. if you don’t burn those things in your fireplace at home, you must still get rid of any and all occultic books and objects.
A drachma was about worth the same as a denarius, the daily wage of an agricultural or city laborer. The amount of 50,000 drachmas was HUGE. Ephesus was steeped in the occult.
Keener is excellent here, criticizing Western non-supernaturalism:
In many cultures, people seek help from whatever spirits can provide them, unless embracing the sharp demands of monotheism. Western missionaries often taught a theological system void of supernatural power, in contrast to local pre-Christian concerns. Once locals reappropriated a Christian conception of signs and wonders, indigenous Christianity often flourished. The relative weakness of supernatural engagement is Western Christianity stems from radical Enlightenment’s bulwark against supernaturalism, not from Western Christianity’s earlier theological heritage. (pp. 477-78)
In other words, when post-Enlightenment Christianity (c. 1600-1800+) took the power of the Spirit away from the gospel, it was too weak to be effective in a world where supernatural (and demonic) beliefs flourished. When supernatural Christianity flourished in those cultures, it flourished and the churches grew.
20:
And “so”: it could be translated as “in this way.” In other words, the word of God grew because of the satanic display and the Ephesian believers renouncing and repenting the occult.
This verse ends the fifth of the so-called six “panels” of Acts, each one lasting about five years. Here they are:
1:1 to 6:7
6:8 to 9:31
9:32 to 12:24
12:25 to 16:5
16:6 to 19:20
19:21 to 28:31
Let’s not see this verse as a throwaway summary. God’s word really did grow and prevail mightily. For a close look at word (logos), see v. 10.
GrowApp for Acts 19:13-20
1. Did you dabble in the things of God before you full got saved and knew him personally? How did your dabbling work out for you? When did you finally and fully convert to Jesus?
2. Have dabbled in the occult, like horoscopes or Ouija boards or even witchcraft ? How did God set you free? Have you thrown out your occultic books and objects?
RELATED
The Historical Reliability of the Book of Acts
Book of Acts and Paul’s Epistles: Match Made in Heaven?
SOURCES
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