What Does Biblical Conversion Look Like In Public?

Acts 19:11 CSB

God was performing extraordinary miracles by Paul’s hands,

The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Acts Mastering Magic (19:11–20)

Though the Old Testament expressly forbade dabbling in the occult, Jews in ancient times played an important role in mediating the magical wisdom of the East to the Greco-Roman world (Lev 20:6, 27; Deut 18:10–11; Josephus Jewish Antiquities 8.45–49; Lk 11:19).

The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Acts Mastering Magic (19:11–20)

These healings did occur, but to imitate them—as some media evangelists have been wont to do with “prayer cloths” or other “prayed-over” trinkets sent through the mail—is to reduce miracle to magic, or impersonal manipulation (contrast Lk 8:43–48).

Larkin, W. J., Jr. (1995). Acts (Vol. 5, ). Westmont, IL: IVP Academic.

The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Acts Mastering Magic (19:11–20)

In fact, some Jews were apparently familiar with the magic formula “the Ephesian letters” (Testament of Solomon 7:1–8; 8:11).

The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Acts Mastering Magic (19:11–20)

So it is not surprising to find seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, acting as exorcists. Since the high priest was the only one permitted to utter the “unpronounceable name of God” and enter his presence in the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement, it makes sense that these brothers would use that title as part of their “hype” (m. Yoma 3:8; 5:1; 6:2; compare Mastin 1976).

The sons’ syncretistic appropriation follows the time-honored practice of piling name upon powerful name so as to create incantations strong enough to require spirits to do one’s bidding. One such conjuration goes “I conjure you by the god of the Hebrews/Jesus, IABA IAĒ ABRAŌTH AIA THŌTH ELE ELŌ …” (Betz 1986:96). The name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches is these men’s newest and most potent “power name” (compare Eph 1:21).

As the evil spirit responds to their attempted exorcism, the power encounter is transformed into demonic manhandling. Neither the exalted Lord Jesus nor Paul is directly involved. Yet the results reveal the unquestioned superiority of Jesus, whom Paul preaches. The demon displays spiritual insight: he knows both Jesus and Paul (compare Lk 4:34, 41; 8:28), but he does not recognize the magicians.

11 God was performing extraordinary miracles by Paul’s hands, 12 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.

13 Now some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists also attempted to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I command you by the Jesus that Paul preaches!” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were doing this. 15 The evil spirit answered them, “I know Jesus, and I recognize Paul—but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them, overpowered them all, and prevailed against them, so that they ran out of that house naked and wounded. 17 When this became known to everyone who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, they became afraid, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high esteem.

18 And many who had become believers came confessing and disclosing their practices, 19 while many of those who had practiced magic collected their books and burned them in front of everyone. So they calculated their value and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 In this way the word of the Lord flourished and prevailed.

Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

Acts 19:11–20 CSB

God was performing extraordinary miracles by Paul’s hands, 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. Now some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists also attempted to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I command you by the Jesus that Paul preaches!” Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were doing this. The evil spirit answered them, “I know Jesus, and I recognize Paul—but who are you?” Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them, overpowered them all, and prevailed against them, so that they ran out of that house naked and wounded. When this became known to everyone who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, they became afraid, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high esteem. And many who had become believers came confessing and disclosing their practices, while many of those who had practiced magic collected their books and burned them in front of everyone. So they calculated their value and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver. In this way the word of the Lord flourished and prevailed.