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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Act_19:11-20
11God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out. 13But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, "I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches." 14Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15And the evil spirit answered and said to them, "I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" 16And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived in Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified. 18Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices. 19And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing.
Act_19:11 This is not the first time God used extraordinary miracles to confirm His truth and His speaker (cf. Act_3:1-10; Act_5:15; Act_8:6; Act_8:13; Act_9:40-42; Act_13:11-12; Act_14:8-11). Superstition and occult practices were widespread and entrenched in Ephesus. God, being rich in mercy, allowed His supernatural power and authority, resident in His Messiah, to express itself through Paul to these Satanic-bound people. Oh, the mercy of God!
Act_19:12 "handkerchiefs" These were possibly sweat bands tied around the head during work.
▣ "aprons" This refers to work aprons, somewhat like carpenters' aprons. These healings showed God's compassion, power, and confirmed the gospel and the ministry of Paul.
▣ "the evil spirits went out" Here these demons (cf. Luk_10:17) are called "evil spirits" (cf. Mat_12:45; Luk_7:21; Luk_8:2; Luk_11:26; Act_19:12-13; Act_19:15-16). But Luke also calls them "unclean spirits" (cf. Act_5:16; Act_8:7; see Special Topics at Act_5:3; Act_5:16). In Act_16:16 the demon is called "the spirit of python (divination)." All of these phrases seem to be synonymous.
Paul often speaks of demonic categories like "all rule and authority and power and dominion" (Eph_1:21), "the rulers and the authorities in heavenly places" (Eph_3:10), or "against the rulers, against the power, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Eph_6:12). These must refer to some levels of organized demonic spirits. But how, why, where, and who are all speculative because the Bible does not choose to reveal a detailed description of the spiritual realm. It does clearly reveal Christ's power (and His Apostles') over Satan and his kingdom of darkness and death. Jesus' "name" is above every name! Knowing Him brings salvation, peace, wholeness, restoration, and health.
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Act_19:13-16 "Jewish exorcists" Jewish exorcists were common (cf. Luk_11:19). This context clearly shows that exorcism is not by magic formula (names), but by personal relationship with Jesus. If this passage were not so sad it would be funny! Josephus tells of a Jewish exorcism rite in Antiq. 8.2.5 by one Eleazar, using Solomon's incantations.
Act_19:13 "evil spirits" This refers to the demonic. The NT speaks often of this spiritual reality, but does not discuss its origin or details about its organization or activities. Curiosity, fear, and practical ministry needs have caused much speculation. There is never a gift of exorcism listed in the NT, but the need is obvious. Some helpful books are
1. Christian Counseling and the Occult by Kouch
2. Biblical Demonology and Demons in the World Today by Unger
3. Principalities and Powers by Montgomery
4. Christ and the Powers by Hendrik Berkhof
5. Three Crucial Questions About Spiritual Warfare by Clinton E. Arnold
See Special Topic: The Demonic at Act_5:16.
Act_19:14 "Sceva, a Jewish chief priest" Modern scholars cannot find this name in any other writings. It is problematic for a Jewish high priest (archiereus) to be in Ephesus. There was a local synagogue, but the only Jewish temple was in Jerusalem. Luke uses this very word several times in his Gospel and Acts for the High Priest and his family in Jerusalem.
Some speculate that this man was somehow connected to the family of the High Priest, or possibly head of one of the twenty-four orders of priests set up by David (cf. 1Ch_24:7-19).
If this man and his sons were priests, it is surprising they did not use YHWH as the powerful name to control the spirits as does the magic or occult.
Act_19:15 "I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul" This first verb is ginôskô; the second is epistamai. They are somewhat synonymous. Both are used often in Acts, but in this context there is obviously a distinction made between this demon's knowledge of Jesus as the Christ and Paul as His spokesperson.
Act_19:17 Luke records this account to show how the Spirit was magnifying (imperfect passive indicative) Jesus (cf. Joh_14:25; Joh_16:13-14).
Act_19:18 "those who had believed" This is a perfect passive participle. The question is, were they believers in the occult or does this phrase refer to their new belief in the gospel? It is also possible that new believers in the gospel still were initially influenced by their past superstitions. See Special Topic: Greek Verb Tenses Used for Salvation at Act_2:40.
Previous occultists may have been convinced by what happened to the Jewish exorcists in Act_19:13-16. The message of this incident, which showed the power of the person/name of Jesus, spread rapidly (cf. Act_19:17). These people would have been very conscious of the power of "the name."
▣ "kept coming" This is an imperfect middle indicative.
▣ "confessing and disclosing their practices" The ancient Mediterranean was awash in the occult. It was common belief that revealing one's magical formula made it ineffective. This was their way of repudiating their past occultic activities. There is a type of magic literature famous in the ancient world called "Ephesian writings"! This incident shows the gospel's superiority over the occult (cf. Act_19:20).
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Act_19:19 "magic" See Special Topic at Act_8:9.
The "books" (biblous) could refer to large books or small scrolls of papyri on which oaths or curses were written. These were worn as amulets. The huge price shows (1) how superstitious these people were and (2) how the gospel had set them free!
▣ "burning them in the sight of everyone" These were very expensive and sought after books and parchments. Their burning was these new believers' public repentance and profession of faith in Christ, not "the powers"!
Act_19:20 The gospel message is personified (i.e., the word of the Lord) and summarized. Luke's summaries help us divide Acts into six sections (cf. Act_6:7; Act_9:31; Act_12:24; Act_16:5; Act_19:20; Act_28:31).