Acts 19:12 - Printer Friendly

ESV: so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.

NIV: so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.

NASB: so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out.

CSB: so that even facecloths or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them.

NLT: When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled.

KJV: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

NKJV: so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.

Paul's ministry doesn't often include healing miracles or exorcisms. In Philippi, Paul didn't expel the fortune-telling demon from the slave girl until it had irritated him over the course of several days (Acts 16:16–18). When the apostles started the church in Jerusalem, they healed quite a bit; apparently even Peter's shadow healed people (Acts 5:14–16; 8:7). Paul, however, typically uses words, showing how Jesus is the Messiah promised in the Jewish Scriptures. He isn't described as healing again until after being shipwrecked on his way to Rome (Acts 28:8).

But Paul is in Ephesus, a city so well known for witchcraft that the phrase "Ephesian writings" means magical spells. In the synagogue, Paul shows Jews and Gentile God-fearers how relying on the Mosaic law for salvation doesn't work: they need to redirect their faith to Jesus. In the city, Paul does the same with magicians. Demon-empowered magic only enslaves. Jesus frees and heals.

The resistance Paul finds because of his healing ministry in Ephesus parallels his experience in Philippi. In Philippi, the owners of the possessed slave girl had Paul arrested because they could no longer make money from her fortune-telling (Acts 16:19–24). In Ephesus, so many people abandon their witchcraft and Artemis worship that the silversmiths who make shrines fear for their livelihoods (Acts 19:18–19, 23–27). It's interesting to consider how often people reject Jesus' offer of salvation not because they don't believe it's real but because it would cost them money.

In the Gospels, some people were healed by touching Jesus' robes (Matthew 9:20–22; 14:34–36). This does not validate the modern practice of "prayer cloths." Some prayer cloths are just reminders that one's friends are praying for them. Many times, however, televangelists sell pieces of cloth they claim have the power to heal, earn money, or otherwise send God's blessings. They are often sold by prosperity gospel preachers to take more money from their victims. Praying over a friend while you knit her a blanket is a warm and loving thing to do. Demanding money for a magical piece of fabric is for frauds.

Acts 19:11–20 gives the account of the Sons of Sceva in Ephesus. Witchcraft was endemic in Ephesus, and itinerant Jewish exorcists took advantage of the corresponding demonic activity. Paul has been healing and expelling demons in Jesus' name. But when the sons of Sceva attempt to use his faith in Christ as a formula, the demon beats them up. The people see how Paul has access to real power that can free them, and they abandon their magic and follow Jesus—much to the dismay of the guild that makes and sells idols of Artemis (Acts 19:23–27).

Acts 19 recounts Paul's three-year visit in Ephesus. He starts by revealing how Jesus of Nazareth has brought to life the kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit validates Paul's message by healing those struck with physical ailments and demon possession. Amazed by Paul's authority over evil spirits, so many magicians turn to Christ that the craftsmen who make idols fear for their livelihoods. They nearly incite a riot before the town clerk settles them down. Paul realizes his time in Ephesus has ended, and he travels to Macedonia (Acts 20:1).

Acts 19 is the meat of Paul's third missionary voyage. He has already revisited the churches in central modern-day Turkey (Acts 18:23). Now he returns to Ephesus for a three-year stay. After firmly establishing the church there, rescuing many from pagan magic and the worship of Artemis, he returns to Macedonia and Greece. A threat on his life sends him back up to Macedonia and across to Troas. He meets briefly with the Ephesian elders to tell them they will not meet again (Acts 20). When he returns to Jerusalem, he is arrested and, eventually, taken to Rome.

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.