Topical Bible: Paul: Rebukes the Exorcists

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In the Acts of the Apostles, the Apostle Paul encounters a situation involving itinerant Jewish exorcists, which serves as a significant moment in the early Christian church's history. This event is recorded in Acts 19:11-20, where the power of God through Paul is contrasted with the futile attempts of those who sought to use the name of Jesus without true faith or authority.

Context and Background

During Paul's third missionary journey, he spent a considerable amount of time in Ephesus, a major city in the Roman province of Asia. Ephesus was known for its diverse religious practices, including magic and the occult. Paul’s ministry in Ephesus was marked by extraordinary miracles, as God worked through him to heal the sick and cast out evil spirits. Acts 19:11-12 states, "God did extraordinary miracles through the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and the diseases and evil spirits left them."

The Sons of Sceva

Among those who witnessed Paul's miraculous works were the seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest. These men attempted to invoke the name of Jesus to cast out demons, despite lacking a personal relationship with Christ or the authority given to His apostles. They declared, "I adjure you by Jesus, whom Paul proclaims" (Acts 19:13). Their actions were not rooted in faith but rather in a desire to harness the power they observed in Paul’s ministry.

The Rebuke and Its Consequences

The attempt by the sons of Sceva to exorcise a demon using Jesus' name resulted in a dramatic and humbling failure. The evil spirit responded, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" (Acts 19:15). The possessed man then overpowered them, leaving them beaten and naked. This incident highlighted the impotence of those who misuse the name of Jesus without genuine belief or divine commission.

The event had a profound impact on the people of Ephesus. Acts 19:17 records, "When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor." The fear of the Lord and the recognition of His power led many to confess their sins and renounce their involvement in sorcery. As a result, a large number of those who practiced magic brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly, demonstrating their repentance and commitment to Christ.

Theological Implications

This account underscores the authority of Jesus' name and the necessity of a genuine relationship with Him to wield spiritual power. It serves as a warning against the misuse of sacred names and highlights the distinction between true faith and mere ritualistic or superstitious practices. The incident also illustrates the transformative power of the Gospel, as the fear of God led to widespread repentance and the abandonment of occult practices.

Impact on the Early Church

The rebuke of the exorcists and the subsequent events in Ephesus contributed to the spread of the Gospel and the strengthening of the early church. Acts 19:20 concludes, "So the word of the Lord powerfully continued to spread and prevail." This narrative demonstrates the triumph of the Christian message over pagan practices and the establishment of the church's spiritual authority in a diverse and often hostile environment.

Nave's Topical Index

Acts 19:13-20
Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took on them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the LORD Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.
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1 Corinthians 16:8,9
But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.
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Library

Simon the Sorcerer
... sort were Elymas, the sorcerer whom Paul found squatting ... at Ephesus; the vagabond
Jews exorcists, who with ... our hearts against the merciful rebukes that convict ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/simon the sorcerer.htm

Epistle Lxxiv. Firmilian, Bishop of C??sarea in Cappadocia, to ...
... For on a sudden there appeared unto her one of the exorcists, a man ... But what says
the Apostle Paul? ... in contrast, the language of Stephen, which he rebukes (sec ...
/.../cyprian/the epistles of cyprian/epistle lxxiv firmilian bishop of.htm

Period iv. The Age of the Consolidation of the Church: 200 to 324 ...
... seven deacons, seven subdeacons, forty-two acolytes, fifty-two exorcists, readers,
and ... In the same place, also, exhortations are made, rebukes and sacred ...
/.../ayer/a source book for ancient church history/period iv the age of.htm

The Pharisee and the Publican
... to), the vail is upon their heart; and even unto this day (said Paul) the vail ... No,
no; nothing at that day can shroud a man from the hot rebukes of that ...
/.../bunyan/the pharisee and publican/the pharisee and the publican.htm

A Discourse Upon the Pharisee and the Publican
... "For until this day, [said Paul] remaineth the ... No, no, nothing at that day can shroud
a man from the hot rebukes of that vengeance, but the very righteousness ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a discourse upon the pharisee.htm