"Who Are You?"

Acts 19.11-17

“Who Are You” (Part 3)

K. Adrian Scott

Introduction/Context.

Last week I talked about the city of Ephesus as the location where Paul the Apostle was doing some extensive missionary work in Acts 19. It was a city whose claim to fame throughout the world was that Ephesus was ‘the home of the most famous pagan temple in the world’ according to Charles Barclay, Christian historian and theologian.

Remember, it was in this unlikely place as the center of heathen worship that Paul in his travels there ‘found some disciples’ (v. 1). Let it serve as an encouragement to us that in this verse we are reminded that God has His people everywhere. Because when God’s people are everywhere, then God is represented everywhere!

Also, note these disciples or converts to the faith of John the Baptizer, the cousin and forerunner of the Lord Jesus Christ, had either not heard the complete message of John, or in their religious zeal they heard the message, but didn’t understand it. These circumstances created an opportunity for St. Paul to witness to them about the precise role or mission of John the Baptizer and how it played out in the sovereign will and plan of God. The point Paul would make to these disciples is that their conversion under John’s message should have pointed them to the Lord Jesus who will not baptize them with water like John did, but will indeed baptize them with the Holy Spirit or Ghost and fire.

This was not just a lecture on New Testament theology by St. Paul, but after having heard Paul’s exhortation, but after hearing this they were baptized in the name of (or by the authority of) Jesus Christ. This means the men were baptized because Jesus ordered it, and not Paul. We have no such authority but through Jesus Christ. After which Paul proceeded to lay his hands upon them praying, and they all manifested the baptism of the Holy Spirit which was in this incidence, "they spoke with another language and prophesied. There were about twelve of them (vv. 4-7).”

Telling The Story.

Verses 11-13 tells us God was doing many other extraordinary miracles by the hands of St. Paul, and some itinerant Jewish proselytes decided they would try to duplicate God’s miracles through Paul themselves. The men admitted they did not know or were not known by Jesus themselves. In other words, the men confessed they did not have a saving experience with Jesus when they prayed over the sick persons they were desiring to heal by saying - “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims” (v. 13). And the persons trying this were “seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest” (v. 14).

This is an example of the tragic results of someone who is double minded especially when it comes to things spiritual. Are you serving God or someone or something else? These men realized their religion lacked something. It obviously lacked spiritual power and spiritual authority needed for the work they are undertaking, so they borrowed from the Apostle Paul what they knew they needed but didn’t have! These men’s religion did not equip them with the power to overcome demons. Why are they investing in a religion that does not provide what they needed spiritually! What was holding them back? Was it the prestige of the more well known and historic Jewish faith? Was it their father’s position in Judaism that kept them professing to be a practicing Jew? Were they not completely surrendered to God but only want ‘religion’ where they wear it like a coat, so you can put it on and take it off at your will? Why didn’t they say as the Philippian jailer when he asked Paul and Silas in Acts 16.30, “What must I do to be saved?”

They were trying to heal others while they themselves were sick! Why didn’t they give their lives to Christ? They wanted to be in control of their lives? Didn’t want to have to answer to anyone but themselves? Didn’t want anyone in ‘their business?’ Having too much fun? Just one of those people who just can’t make a decision? Were they procrastinators? Were they victims of peer pressure and they didn’t want to go against their friends and buck the trend?

v. 15; “But the evil spirit answered them, Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?”

You need to make certain you’re listening to someone who knows Jesus and has a genuine relationship with the Lord from glory, and not some Satan-inspired charlatan who wants to invoke the name of Jesus but doesn’t even know him themselves! You can tell the difference in Matthew 7 because to know Jesus is to love Jesus and to love Jesus is to follow Jesus! In other words, as our Matthew text tells us if you are born by the good seed of the Gospel of Christ there will be good fruit that follows. Bad (spiritual) seed produces diseased trees and diseased trees produce bad spiritual fruit.

Check out the lives of those who profess to be one thing but live differently than what they profess. These Jewish imitators were either pretending to be Christians or at least borrowing the authority we have in the name of the Lord Jesus! In the meantime their intent was suspect, perhaps to gain influence and lead the sincere followers away from Christ. Their intentions were apparently not pure.

Preaching Point.

Jesus taught that demons cannot cast out devilish spirits! Jesus is recorded in Luke 11.14-18, “Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the prince of demons,” while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?”

These offspring of the temple, Sons of a Priest, were attempting to use gifts designated for those who belong to Christ and Christ’s Church for their own purposes and glory rather than for Christ’s purposes and Christ’s glory. Even the demons for whom they ultimately worked knew something was wrong. When those whom these sons were laying upon did not respond by being healed and set free, they said – “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?”

The Sons of Sceva were professing Christ with the mouth but not possessing Christ in our hearts. They were living spiritually empty and powerless lives that lacked the inspiration that can only come from the anointing of the Holy Spirit! In their case, they were neither recognized by Jesus, and neither did the devil claim them! They were operating without divine authority and with no good results. People will not be changed without the work of the genuine Spirit of God.

v.16; ““And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”

These men, as anyone , no matter who your family may be, no matter how much prestige or political or societal influence one may have, and who is not born from above, is no match for Satan’s power. We have evidence that the devil will beat you up and those watching will laugh at the ignorance of anyone who thinks they can pretend to be holy while they are really not. ‘They were left beaten up and naked’. When he is finished with you, Satan will leave you with nothing. He will strip you of everything including your pride!

It is not surprising that the evil spirit showed completed control over these imitators, tore their clothing off them, and they left the house naked and wounded!

v. 17; “And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled.”

Ultimately the result is the preferred result according to the Lord’s will – the name of the Lord Jesus was (‘praised highly’) or extolled. The name of the Lord Jesus was praised and made famous.

The Proposition.

Who were these men, and who are you?

Are you a Saint or Sinner? Are you Redeemed or a Rebel? Sanctified or Sanctimonious? Are you one of His, namely Christ, or one of Theirs, the Adversary of Christ? Are you a Convert or a Con Man or Woman? Are you Changed, Blood-Bought, Blood-Washed, Sin-Cleansed, Saved, Sanctified, Holy Spirit-filled, Hungry for the Word? Fervent in Prayer? And chase in your behavior?

Just, who are you? Because you cannot be both.

The Close.

What are the consequences for us if Jesus doesn’t know you?