Acts 19 is the nineteenth chapter of the
Acts of the Apostles in the
New Testament of the
ChristianBible. It records part of the third missionary journey of
Paul. The author of the book containing this chapter is anonymous but early Christian tradition uniformly affirmed that
Luke composed this book as well as the
Gospel of Luke.[1]
This part of the third missionary journey of Paul took place in ca. AD 53–55.[2]
Paul's ministry in Ephesus (19:1–22)
This part covers Paul's long stay (almost 3 years) in
Ephesus, where he encountered "some disciples" of
John the Baptist and confronted the influence of magic and occult in that city.[3]
Verse 4
Then Paul said, "
John indeed baptized with a
baptism of
repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on
ChristJesus".[4]
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.[6]
Verse 14
Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so (i.e. attempted to heal using the name of the Lord Jesus).[7]
Sceva (
Greek: Σκευᾶς,
translit.Skeuas) was a Jew called a "chief priest" (
Greek: ιουδαιου αρχιερεως). Some scholars note that it was not uncommon for some members of the
Zadokite clan to take on an unofficial high-priestly role, which may explain this moniker.[8] However, it is more likely that he was an itinerant exorcist based on the use of the Greek term (
Greek: περιερχομένων,
translit.perierchomenōn) "going from place to place" in
Acts 19:13.[9]
In this verse, it is recorded that he had seven sons who attempted to exorcise a demon from a man in Ephesus by using the name of Jesus as an invocation. This practice is similar to the Jewish practice, originating in the
Testament of Solomon, of invoking Angels to cast out demons.[9] Sorcery and exorcism are mentioned several times in Acts:
Simon Magus and
Elymas Bar-Jesus, and divination is illustrated by the girl at
Philippi. "She was regarded as spirit-possessed, and it was the spirit who was addressed and expelled by Paul in
Acts 16:16–18".[10]
Verse 15
And the evil spirit answered and said, “
Jesus I know, and
Paul I know; but who are you?”[11]
This evil spirit had heard of both Jesus and Paul, but not of the seven sons of Sceva, which soon received 'such a beating' from the spirit 'that they ran' (
Acts 19:16); theologian
Conrad Gempf argues that this shows that power over evil spirits does not work in a mechanical way in the name of Jesus, but because one knows Jesus and, more importantly, is known by him.[12]
Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver.[13]
"50,000 pieces of silver": or "50,000 drachmas" (1 drachma represents the average wage for a day) representing over 135 years' wages.[12]
Verse 21
When these things were accomplished,
Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through
Macedonia and
Achaia, to go to
Jerusalem, saying, "After I have been there, I must also see
Rome".[14]
Paul has already intended to have his trip to Jerusalem followed with a trip to Rome.[12]
The riot in Ephesus (19:23–45)
The amount of money in the scroll-burning incident (
19:19) must have stirred many people, whole livelihood (that is dependent on the selling of religious objects) is threatened by the successful growth of the Christian church, and now is bolstering a serious opposition.[12]
Verse 29
So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus,
Macedonians, Paul's travel companions.[15]
And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander motioned with his hand, and wanted to make his defense to the people.[17]