Acts 19:18
New International Version
Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done.

New Living Translation
Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices.

English Standard Version
Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices.

Berean Standard Bible
Many who had believed now came forward, confessing and disclosing their deeds.

Berean Literal Bible
And many of those having believed were coming, confessing and declaring their deeds,

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

New King James Version
And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds.

New American Standard Bible
Also many of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices.

NASB 1995
Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices.

NASB 1977
Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices.

Legacy Standard Bible
Also, many of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices.

Amplified Bible
Many of those who had become believers were coming, confessing and disclosing their [former sinful] practices.

Christian Standard Bible
And many who had become believers came confessing and disclosing their practices,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And many who had become believers came confessing and disclosing their practices,

American Standard Version
Many also of them that had believed came, confessing, and declaring their deeds.

Contemporary English Version
Many who were followers now started telling everyone about the evil things they had been doing.

English Revised Version
Many also of them that had believed came, confessing, and declaring their deeds.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Many believers openly admitted their involvement with magical spells and told all the details.

Good News Translation
Many of the believers came, publicly admitting and revealing what they had done.

International Standard Version
Many who became believers kept coming to confess and talk about what they had been doing.

Majority Standard Bible
Many who had believed now came forward, confessing and disclosing their deeds.

NET Bible
Many of those who had believed came forward, confessing and making their deeds known.

New Heart English Bible
Many also of those who had believed came, confessing, and declaring their deeds.

Webster's Bible Translation
And many that believed came, and confessed, and showed their deeds.

Weymouth New Testament
Many also of those who believed came confessing without reserve what their conduct had been,

World English Bible
Many also of those who had believed came, confessing and declaring their deeds.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
many also of those who believed were coming, confessing and declaring their acts,

Berean Literal Bible
And many of those having believed were coming, confessing and declaring their deeds,

Young's Literal Translation
many also of those who did believe were coming, confessing and declaring their acts,

Smith's Literal Translation
And many of them having believed came, acknowledging and proclaiming their deeds.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And many of them that believed, came confessing and declaring their deeds.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And many believers were arriving, confessing, and announcing their deeds.

New American Bible
Many of those who had become believers came forward and openly acknowledged their former practices.

New Revised Standard Version
Also many of those who became believers confessed and disclosed their practices.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And many of them that believed came, and told their faults, and confessed what they had done.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Many of those who believed were coming and relating their wrongdoing, and they were confessing the things that they were doing.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And many of those who believed came and confessed, and made known their practices.

Godbey New Testament
and many of those having believed came, confessing, and renouncing their practices.

Haweis New Testament
And many of those who believed came, confessing and declaring their practices.

Mace New Testament
many that believed came to confess, and give an account of their past actions.

Weymouth New Testament
Many also of those who believed came confessing without reserve what their conduct had been,

Worrell New Testament
Many also of those who had believed were coming, confessing, and declaring their practices.

Worsley New Testament
And many of them that believed came confessing and declaring their former practices.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Sons of Sceva
17This became known to all the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, and fear came over all of them. So the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 18Many who had believed now came forward, confessing and disclosing their deeds. 19And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books and burned them in front of everyone. When the value of the books was calculated, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.…

Cross References
James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Matthew 3:6
Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

Mark 1:5
People went out to him from all of Jerusalem and the countryside of Judea. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

Proverbs 28:13
He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.

Psalm 32:5
Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

Leviticus 5:5
If someone incurs guilt in one of these ways, he must confess the sin he has committed,

Numbers 5:7
and must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution, add a fifth to its value, and give all this to the one he has wronged.

Luke 19:8
But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay it fourfold.”

2 Chronicles 30:22
And Hezekiah encouraged all the Levites who performed skillfully before the LORD. For seven days they ate their assigned portion, sacrificing peace offerings and giving thanks to the LORD, the God of their fathers.

Nehemiah 9:2-3
Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all the foreigners, and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. / While they stood in their places, they read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day, and they spent another quarter of the day in confession and worship of the LORD their God.

Jeremiah 3:13
Only acknowledge your guilt, that you have rebelled against the LORD your God. You have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every green tree and have not obeyed My voice,’” declares the LORD.

Ezekiel 18:21
But if the wicked man turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die.

Joel 2:12-13
“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” / So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster.

Isaiah 55:6-7
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. / Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.


Treasury of Scripture

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

confessed.

Leviticus 16:21
And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:

Leviticus 26:40
If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me;

Job 33:27,28
He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; …

Jump to Previous
Acts Believe Believed Believers Conduct Confessed Confessing Declaring Deeds Disclosing Evil Faith Kept Openly Practices Public Reserve Shewed Showed Sins Statement
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Acts Believe Believed Believers Conduct Confessed Confessing Declaring Deeds Disclosing Evil Faith Kept Openly Practices Public Reserve Shewed Showed Sins Statement
Acts 19
1. The Holy Spirit is given by Paul's hands.
8. The Jews blaspheme his doctrine, which is confirmed by miracles.
13. The Jewish exorcists,
16. are beaten by a man who had an evil spirit.
19. Conjuring books are burnt.
21. Demetrius, for love of gain, raises an uproar against Paul;
35. which is appeased by the town clerk.














Many who had believed
This phrase indicates a significant number of individuals who had come to faith in Jesus Christ. The context is Ephesus, a major city in the Roman province of Asia, known for its temple to Artemis and its diverse population. The believers here were likely a mix of Jews and Gentiles, reflecting the early church's expansion beyond Jewish communities. The use of "believed" suggests a genuine conversion experience, aligning with the broader New Testament theme of faith as the means of salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9).

now came forward
The act of coming forward implies a public declaration or action. In the cultural context of Ephesus, where magic and occult practices were prevalent, this public step would have been significant and potentially costly. It demonstrates the transformative power of the Gospel, compelling believers to take bold steps in their faith journey. This public act can be seen as a form of repentance, aligning with the biblical call to turn away from sin and towards God (Acts 3:19).

confessing
Confession here involves acknowledging one's sins or wrongdoings. Biblically, confession is an important aspect of repentance and is often linked with forgiveness (1 John 1:9). In the context of Ephesus, this confession might have included renouncing previous practices related to magic or idolatry. The act of confessing publicly would have served as a powerful testimony to the transformative work of Christ in their lives.

and disclosing their deeds
Disclosing deeds suggests a detailed revelation of past actions, particularly those that were hidden or shameful. In Ephesus, known for its magical practices, this likely included the renunciation of sorcery and the burning of scrolls related to such practices (Acts 19:19). This act of disclosure is a demonstration of the believers' commitment to living in the light, as encouraged in Ephesians 5:11-13. It also reflects the biblical principle that true repentance involves not only turning away from sin but also making restitution where possible (Luke 19:8-9).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ephesus
A major city in Asia Minor where Paul conducted significant ministry work. It was known for its temple to Artemis and was a center of pagan worship and occult practices.

2. Believers
Individuals who had come to faith in Jesus Christ through the ministry of Paul and others. They were previously involved in various sinful practices, including magic and idolatry.

3. Confession and Disclosure
The act of openly admitting one's sins and practices, particularly those related to the occult and idolatry, as a sign of genuine repentance and transformation.

4. Paul the Apostle
The primary missionary and teacher in Ephesus during this time, whose preaching and miracles led many to faith in Christ.

5. Occult Practices
Activities related to magic and sorcery, which were prevalent in Ephesus and were renounced by the new believers as they turned to Christ.
Teaching Points
The Power of Confession
Confession is a powerful act that brings hidden sins into the light, allowing for healing and restoration. It is a necessary step in the process of repentance and spiritual growth.

Renouncing Sinful Practices
True belief in Christ leads to a transformation that includes renouncing past sinful behaviors. This is a public declaration of a changed life and commitment to Christ.

Community and Accountability
The act of confessing sins within a community of believers fosters accountability and support, which are crucial for spiritual maturity and overcoming sin.

The Cost of Discipleship
Following Christ may require giving up practices, relationships, or possessions that are contrary to His teachings. This can be challenging but is essential for genuine discipleship.

The Witness of a Transformed Life
The public confession and renunciation of sin serve as a powerful testimony to others of the transformative power of the Gospel.(18) And many that believed.--More accurately, many of those that had believed. The word is probably used, as in Acts 19:2, for the whole process of conversion, including baptism, confession in this instance following on that rite, instead of preceding it. The words do not definitely state whether the confession was made privately to St. Paul and the other teachers, or publicly in the presence of the congregation; but the latter is, as in the confession made to the Baptist, much the more probable. (See Note on Matthew 3:6.) The feeling of a vague awe at this contact with the Unseen in some, the special belief in Christ as the Judge of all men in others, roused conscience into intense activity; the sins of their past lives came back upon their memories, and it was a relief to throw off the burden by confessing them.

Verse 18. - Many also of them that had believed for and many that believed, A.V.; confessing and declaring for and confessed and showed, A.V. Many also of them that had believed. This and the following verse speak of that class of converts who had previously been addicted to magic arts. It gives us a curious view of the extent to which magic prevailed among the Jews at this time. Nor was it less prevalent in heathen Ephesus. The magic formulae of Ephesus were famous under the name of Ἐφέσια γράμματα (see Renan, pp. 344,345, note), and the belief in magic seems to have been universal. Hesychius gives as the names of the oldest Ephesian charms, Aski, Kataski, Lix, Petrax, Damnameneus, AEsion, which he explains as meaning severally "Darkness, Light," "the Earth," "the Year," "the Truth" (Lewin, p. 334).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Many
πολλοί (polloi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4183: Much, many; often.

who
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

had believed
πεπιστευκότων (pepisteukotōn)
Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 4100: From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust.

now
τε (te)
Conjunction
Strong's 5037: And, both. A primary particle of connection or addition; both or also.

came forward,
ἤρχοντο (ērchonto)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2064: To come, go.

confessing
ἐξομολογούμενοι (exomologoumenoi)
Verb - Present Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1843: From ek and homologeo; to acknowledge or agree fully.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

disclosing
ἀναγγέλλοντες (anangellontes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 312: To bring back word, report; I announce, declare. From ana and the base of aggelos; to announce.

their
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

deeds.
πράξεις (praxeis)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 4234: From prasso; practice, i.e. an act; by extension, a function.


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