And certain of the Jewish exorcists also, who went about, took in hand to call upon those who had wicked spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, I adjure you by Jesus, whom Paul preaches.
God had worked unusual miracles through Paul at Ephesus. Men who made a living from evil spirits noticed the power in the name he used. This verse shows a group trying to borrow that name second-hand — and it raises the question of who may use it at all.
Casting out demons was already a trade in that city. One writer describes how it was done, and what made Paul different.
These displays of miraculous power brought the question of exorcisms to the front. The marked effect of Paul's miracles led to attempts to rival and equal them in casting out demons. Among the heathen there were those who claimed to drive out demons; among the Jews there were some who really did it... At Ephesus, it seems, there were such people. Luke calls them wandering Jews. Among them were sons of a Jew named Sceva, who did this work. No doubt they used old, well-known formulas thought suitable for the purpose. But now people saw something else. Paul used none of the prescribed charms. He drove out demons simply in the name of the Lord Jesus. This was something quite new at Ephesus.
Older translations call these men "vagabond" Jews, where the ESV says "itinerant." A reference work explains the older word.
A term not used as an insult in Scripture, but meaning a "wanderer"... In Acts 19:13 the Revised Version has "strolling."
When God works, opposition often comes as copying rather than open attack. One writer links this moment to Egypt.
When God works, the enemy is watchful. He tries to spoil what God is doing. Yet his interference often ends in his own confusion. The magicians of Egypt tried to copy the divine power Moses displayed. They failed to create life, and that exposed them. Here the Jewish exorcists "undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits." They had no living link with Jesus, and could only speak of Him as "Jesus whom Paul preaches."
Their own formula betrays them. They anchor the name not to their own faith but to another man's preaching — and one commentator points out what is missing from the title they use.
The seven sons of Sceva thought that they too might cast out demons by using the name of the Lord Jesus. But they did not know Him. He was not really Lord to them, and so they could only speak of Him as "Jesus whom Paul preaches," leaving out His title as Lord.
The same writer who described the local exorcism trade draws out what would have been needed for the name to work in their mouths.
Anyone who would use it with effect, however, needed two things. These men had neither. The one was genuine saving faith in Christ; the other a true confession of His Lordship. No one can use that name in conflict with demons unless he is a real believer and confessor of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now the language of these men betrayed where they were and what they were... And the very way they spoke of Him, simply as Jesus, with no title of honour, showed plainly that they did not own Him as Lord.
Why did they think this would work? One writer explains their reasoning.
These exorcists were used to charms and spells that anyone who knew them could use with effect. So they supposed that Paul was introducing a new charm, and that others could use it too. For the name of the Lord Jesus, when Paul used it, had a power that plainly no demon had resisted.
The Lord's answer showed that the name is no charm.
Here the Lord showed His displeasure at those who did not own Him, yet tried to use the apostle's action in His name as a charm — a formula they assumed divine power must follow... They called the name of the Lord over people, and it was all in vain. Their daring to command "by Jesus whom Paul preaches" only brought out three things more clearly: the Lord's defence of His servant, their own powerlessness, and the reality of the enemy's power.
This failure is not just an old story. One writer turns it on preachers today.
There were seven of them, and they used the name of Jesus as the apostle had done. Even so, the demons exposed their deceit, and they had to flee in confusion (Acts 19:13-16). Could preachers today fall into the same error as these "vagabond Jews"? They may think that simply retelling the facts of the gospel, eloquently or not, is enough to save the soul. The failure of such men will be a striking parallel to that of the exorcists.
- Borrowed. These wandering exorcists had no living link with Jesus. They knew His name only second-hand, as the name Paul preached.
- Imitated. As the magicians of Egypt copied Moses, the enemy answers a work of God by copying it — and ends in his own confusion.
- Untitled. They spoke of Him simply as Jesus, with no title of honour. That showed they did not own Him as Lord.
- Required. Two things were missing — genuine saving faith in Christ, and a true confession of His Lordship. Without both, no one can use that name against demons.
- Vindicated. Treating the name as a charm left them powerless and brought out the Lord's defence of His true servant. Preachers who only retell the facts risk the same exposure.
And there were certain [men], seven sons of Sceva, Jewish high priest, who were doing this.
Ephesus was famous for magic. Paul cast out demons there in the name of the Lord Jesus, and others wanted his secret. Verse 14 names the men who tried to borrow it. They were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish high priest — men with rank in religion and no personal link to the One whose name they used.
The trade these men practised already existed. What was new in Ephesus was a name that worked without any formula attached to it.
At Ephesus, it seems, there were such people — wandering Jews, as Luke describes them. Among them were sons of one Sceva, a Jew, who did this. No doubt they used some old and recognised formulas thought suitable for that purpose. But now people saw Paul cast out demons in the name of the Lord Jesus alone, without any of the prescribed charms. This was something quite new at Ephesus. Everyone had to admit that the name worked. These exorcists were used to charms that anyone who knew them could use with effect. So they supposed that Paul was bringing in a new charm, one that others could turn to as well.
Being sons of a chief priest gave these men a platform. It gave them no power, and it made their collapse public.
Here the Lord showed His displeasure at these men. They did not own Him, yet they tried to use the apostle's action in His name as a charm — as if divine power had to follow it. Seven took part in a general way, two (it seems) directly, and the blow fell on those two. Their position too, as sons of a Jewish chief priest, drew all the more attention to so solemn a defeat.
Their own words gave them away. They spoke of Jesus as somebody else's subject matter, and they never gave Him His title.
But anyone who used that name with effect needed two things. These men had neither. One was genuine saving faith in Christ; the other, a true confession of His Lordship... "Jesus whom Paul proclaims." True, Paul did preach the Lord Jesus, for he believed on Him. But there is not a word here of any acknowledgment on their part that they also believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. And the way they spoke of Him showed that they did not own Him as Lord. They said only "Jesus," with no title of honour.
The Lord Himself set the limit on who may use His name in conflict with evil powers.
A Jew at Ephesus, a chief of the priests, whose seven sons sought by the name of Jesus to cast out a demon. The demon admitted that he knew Jesus and Paul, but demanded, "Who are you?" He then attacked them through the man he held, and they fled away naked and wounded. Here Satan showed his power as the "strong man." The One stronger than he would not let these men use His power.
The same danger has a modern form. A man can repeat true things about Christ and still stand where these seven stood.
Could preachers today fall into the same error as these wandering Jews? They may think that a mere retelling of the facts of the gospel, polished or not, is enough to save the soul. The failure of such will be a striking parallel to that of the exorcists.
The story does not end with their defeat.
The intrusion of the sons of Sceva brought about their own defeat. But the Lord turned it to His own glory, for the matter "became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled." Many who believed unburdened their hearts by confessing their deeds and the name of the Lord. This stronghold of Satan must have been shaken to its foundations when "a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all." Such was the triumph of the gospel: "So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily."
- Credentials. Seven sons of a Jewish high priest had religion, rank and a trade in exorcism — and none of it gave them authority over an evil spirit.
- Copy. Their move was imitation. They took the name of Jesus for a new charm, one that anyone who knew it could use.
- Confession. They lacked real faith in Christ and never owned Him as Lord. "Jesus whom Paul proclaims" was a borrowed phrase, not their own confession.
- Collapse. The stronger One would not let men who did not know Him use His power. The two who faced the demon fled the house naked and wounded.
- Consequence. God turned their defeat into glory for Christ. Fear fell on the city, the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled, magic books went into the fire, and the word of the Lord kept spreading.
But the wicked spirit answering said to them, Jesus I know, and Paul I am acquainted with; but *ye*, who are ye?
Paul's preaching at Ephesus carried real power over evil spirits, and others wanted the same results without the same faith. Jewish exorcists there borrowed the name of Jesus as a formula. The spirit answered them with a question that exposed everything they lacked.
The enemy's opposition here took the form of copying, as it did in Egypt:
When God works, the enemy is watchful, and tries to spoil what God is doing, yet his interference often ends in his own confusion. The magicians of Egypt tried to imitate the divine power displayed by Moses, only to be exposed when they failed to create life. Here, the Jewish exorcists tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus over people who had evil spirits. They had no living link with Jesus, and could only speak of Him as "Jesus whom Paul preaches."
The spirit's reply is not one claim repeated. In the original there are two separate verbs, and the choice is deliberate:
The demon spoke, refusing to do what they demanded. His words must have struck all who heard them: "Jesus I know, and Paul I know (or, am acquainted with), but you, who are you?" The demon knew Jesus, he said. By his language he meant to distinguish between the Lord and His servant Paul. The second verb translated "I know" in the older English version is different from the first in the original. So that name was not a charm which just anyone could use.
Two things were missing, and their own words showed it:
Two conditions were needed for anyone to use it with effect. Both were lacking in these men. One was genuine saving faith in Christ; the other, a true confession of His Lordship. No one can use that name against demons unless he really believes in the Lord Jesus Christ and confesses Him... "I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches," was their word to the evil spirits. "Whom Paul preaches." True, Paul did preach the Lord Jesus, for he believed on Him. But there is not a word here that they also believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. And the very way they spoke of Him, simply as Jesus, without giving Him a title of honour, clearly showed that they did not own Him as Lord.
Recognition did not run both ways:
The demon at once showed that he did not know them, and he was not deceived by their second-hand use of the name of Jesus.
The failure was not a technical mistake. The Lord Himself refused to let His name serve as a charm for anyone who wanted power:
Here the Lord showed how He resented those who tried to use the apostle's action in His name as a charm, without owning Him. They acted as if divine power had to attach itself to that name... Their daring to command the spirits "by Jesus whom Paul preaches" only showed three things more plainly: He stood by His servant, they themselves were helpless, and the enemy's power was real. For the wicked spirit declared at once that he was acquainted with Paul and knew his Master. He spoke with withering contempt for the hollow profanity of those who abused His name. He also gave the most practical proof of it. The evil power could trample them down and shame them, instead of handing a victory to such unholy lips.
The demon's knowledge was accurate and useless. Writers note the same of evil spirits generally:
A real faith is in view here — certainty of knowledge and conviction — the kind the devils have about the oneness of God. They do not doubt it; but there is no link at all between their heart and God through a new nature — far from it.
Public humiliation of the imitators turned into public honour for Christ:
The moral impression of this defeat was great on everyone outside in Ephesus. And it was not only that fear fell on them all; the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. It was not simply that God and the enemy were brought before men's consciences; there was a testimony to the Deliverer also.
- Imitation. The enemy answers real power with a copy of it; like the magicians of Egypt, the copy runs until it breaks down.
- Recognition. The spirit's two verbs marked off the Master he knew from the servant he knew about — and left the imitators unknown.
- Omission. They said "Jesus," never "Lord." They spoke of a Christ Paul preached, not one they believed in. Their words showed what they lacked.
- Refusal. Christ will not let His name work as a charm for those who do not own Him; the failure was His vindication of His servant.
- Magnification. The exposure ended in more than fear across Ephesus: it magnified the name of the Lord Jesus.
And the man in whom the wicked spirit was leaped upon them, and having mastered both, prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
Ephesus was full of magic, and some travelling Jewish exorcists tried to use the name Paul preached. Why did that name work in Paul's mouth and wreck them in theirs?
The account names seven sons of Sceva. The ESV says the man "mastered all of them," but older translations read "both of them."
In Acts 19:16 it is "both of them" — not the seven, but two of them. "Both" is easily turned into "all," but not the other way round.
William Kelly reads the beating as an answer from the Lord, not an accident.
Here the Lord showed His anger against men who did not own Him, yet tried to use the apostle's action in His name as a charm that God's power was bound to follow. Seven were involved in a general way; two, it seems, were involved directly, and the blow fell on them. They were sons of a Jewish chief priest, and that drew all the more attention to so solemn a defeat.
Their reasoning was simple: if the name works for Paul, it will work for us. Two things were missing.
But two things were needed before anyone could use that name with effect, and these men had neither. The first was real saving faith in Christ. The second was a true confession of His Lordship. No one can use that name against demons unless he truly believes in the Lord Jesus Christ and confesses Him... And the way they spoke of Him — simply as Jesus, with no title of honour — showed plainly that they did not own Him as Lord.
Their own words gave them away. They called Him "Jesus whom Paul proclaims" — not their own Lord.
Notice that the apostle used the name of One he knew, and whose lordship he never doubted. The exorcists were only imitators. They said, "We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul proclaims" — One they knew nothing about for themselves.
The verse says the man leaped on them, though the power was not his own. William Kelly sets that against the way the Spirit of God works in believers.
Notice how the evil spirit makes himself one with the man he controls. In His grace the Spirit of God works in the same close way: He lives in believers and makes them vessels to magnify the name of Jesus. He is the One who does all that is good, yet it is all mixed with their own minds and affections, so that the whole is put down to them... It was the man's own act, though he could never have done it except by that terrible power.
This attack shows what a demon can do to a body.
The demons were also strong, as we see from the way they handled the people they controlled, and from one of them overcoming seven men and making them flee out of the house naked and wounded.
That strength still has a limit.
Here Satan showed his power as the 'strong man.' But the One stronger than he would not let these men use His power.
Satan's attack on Paul's work backfired.
This plot was defeated. Satan's agents were put to shame by the very evil spirit they were trying to drive out. The result was to advance the gospel in three ways. First, the news of what had happened to the sons of Sceva spread through the city; fear fell on both Jews and Greeks, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. Next, those who believed were so moved that they cut themselves off completely from their old magical practices, and some brought their costly books of magic and burned them in front of everyone. Last, we are told, "the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily."
The same danger reaches the pulpit today.
Is it not possible for preachers today to fall into the same error as these wandering Jews? They may think that simply telling the facts of the gospel, in fine words or plain ones, is enough to save the soul. Anyone who does will fail as strikingly as the exorcists did.
- Borrowed — They used a name they had never believed in: "Jesus whom Paul proclaims." Borrowed authority is no authority.
- Bare — They had no faith in Christ and no confession of His Lordship. The demon exposed the gap, and they fled stripped and hurt.
- Beaten — The strong man's power was real, and it crushed them. But the Stronger One refused to let His name work as a charm.
- Broadcast — The whole city heard. Fear fell on Jews and Greeks alike, and the name of Jesus was magnified.
- Burned — Believers destroyed their magic books, and the word of God grew and prevailed. Satan's counterfeit ended by advancing the gospel.