Acts 19:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this.

NIV: Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.

NASB: Now there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, doing this.

CSB: Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were doing this.

NLT: Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this.

KJV: And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

NKJV: Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.

Gentiles in the Roman Empire were surrounded by gods. From the idol in the niche in their house wall to the giant temples where people held feasts—and worse—for gods like Aphrodite in Corinth and Artemis in Ephesus, there was always something more to worship.

Many people, however, grew disillusioned with the endless parade. They looked to the east for supernatural forces that meant something. Some Jewish people took advantage of this. Like Bar-Jesus on the island of Cyprus (Acts 13:4–12), they talked about their powerful "invisible" God, making their audience think words like "YWHW," "Sabbath," and "Abraham" were parts of magical incantations. Ephesus was filled not only with gods, but also witchcraft. "Ephesian writing" is a phrase meaning magic spells. With witchcraft comes demons and demon possession. It was a perfect storm for Jewish exorcists.

There's a new player, however: Paul has come to Ephesus. Through the name of Jesus, he has been going through the city healing and expelling demons. The Jews take notice and add "Jesus whom Paul proclaims" to their bag of tricks. One such group of Jews claim to be the sons of a Jewish high priest. "High Priest" may be an assumed title—a marketing gimmick. Sceva may have claimed that only the high priest can say the name of God: a word of power. This would add to his sons' mystery.

There have been others who use the name of Jesus to control demons; Jesus and the disciples met one. John and the others tried to stop him, as he wasn't a disciple, but Jesus said to leave him alone: "For the one who is not against us is for us" (Mark 9:38–41). The sons of Sceva are not of the same class as that man. They know Jesus as a magical word that can bring them attention and, likely, money. The do not understand that the power is in Jesus, the person.

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.