Dear Friends,
Greetings in Christ!
In our last post, we saw how Paul was getting along in Ephesus with his teaching ministry that began in a synagogue, then moved into the school of Tyrannus. And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. In the midst of this revolution, Dr Luke includes a story about certain exorcists who find out the hard way that the deliverance ministry is not to be entered into lightly.
Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit and give us understanding as we read thy word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Acts 19:13-22
13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
Paul had become quite well known. His gospel had become quite well known. Miracles resulting from Paul’s ministry, with people being healed and delivered from evil spirits, were getting quite well known. When certain of the vagabond Jews saw what was happening, they thought that they would try their hand at deliverance as well.
14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
As sons of a Jewish priest, they were probably priests as well. As sons of Sceva, who was chief of the priests, they were certainly well acquainted with the Scriptures. Whether they were believers, it does not say, but by saying Jesus “whom Paul preacheth,” it sounds like they did not have a personal relationship with Jesus. They have the right idea by using Jesus’ name. When dealing with the enemy, one should always use Jesus’ name. (I certainly cannot rebuke Satan in my own name.) However, rebuking the enemy in Jesus’ name only works if you know Him.
15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
Sometimes we run across brothers or sisters who have received Christ, but because of some besetting sin they have or had, they are struggling with demonic oppression. People like this are not dangerous. But the person in the section before us was not a Christian. He was under the control of a powerful demon. People like this are very dangerous. I would not attempt to cast a demon out of someone like this. If someone feels led to this sort of ministry, they have to be prayed up, studied, and clothed in the armor of God before getting started. If you are going to cast a demon out of someone, it’s always a good idea to fast and pray first to prepare. (Matt 17:21 KJV; Mark 9:29 KJV) Furthermore, if there is any unconfessed sin in your life, that needs to be dealt with before you cast a demon out of someone, especially someone like we have in our passage here. The seven sons of Sceva are examples of what can happen if you are unprepared.
16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
So here we have another Romans 8:28. When people heard what happened, it showed them just how real spiritual warfare is. This led to repentance and revival.
18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.
19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
The silver pieces referred to here were probably drachmas, which had various sizes but most likely weighed 4.3 grams. At today’s market price for silver ($78.46/ troy oz), the value of their books was around US $542,352, yet they put a torch to them to please God and draw close to Jesus.
This principle is not limited to occult objects or books. I heard about a lady who inherited a liquor store. Instead of selling the inventory, however, she poured it all out. On the other hand, I have known Christians who lived in depressed areas where the only job they could find was working at a beer bottling company. I believe God’s grace was upon them. Contrariwise, Christians who like to drink cocktails at home church on Bible study night, or throw keg parties after church, are weak and unfruitful. They have not learned the principle of Acts 19:18, 19.
Satan is incredibly legalistic. If you have one of his books or objects in your house, he feels he has a legal right to be there, too. This is the principle behind the legend that a vampire cannot enter your house unless he is invited. What is not a ‘legend’, however, is the Torah. Moses wrote:
26 Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.
Deuteronomy 7:26
20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
Again, we see Romans 8:28 at work here. Although the seven sons of Sceva appear to have failed, their failure led to a revival that furthered the gospel.
21 After these things were ended, 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.
We see the work of the Holy Spirit here. Paul did not make an intellectual judgment about his next move. Otherwise, it would say Paul purposed in his mind. It is in our spirit that we communicate with the Holy Spirit. When we are born again (John 3:3), our spirit is reconnected to God. We sense his leading. When we let this leading take precedence over our mind and our flesh, we are in the spirit. Paul was so tuned into the Spirit (eg, I Cor 5:3), that he could say, For in him we live, and move, and have our being; Paul’s Letters are filled with instruction on conquering the flesh and being filled with the Spirit, but how much effort do Christians typically put into this endeavor? Speaking for myself, not enough.
22 So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.
Acts 19:13-22
For a more in-depth study, now is a good time to read I Corinthians. It appears that Paul wrote his first Letter to the Corinthians during his stay in Ephesus. He had received a letter (I Cor 7:1) and a report (I Cor 1:11) about issues that needed to be addressed. This took place circa 55 AD. While the Euthalian tradition cites Philippi as the origin of the Letter (I Cor postscript, KJV), internal evidence points to Ephesus. (I Cor 16:8) On the other hand, it is not beyond the realm of possibility that Paul made a short trip to Philippi and wrote the Letter before going back to Ephesus. As our section ends with verse 22, Timothy and Erastus are sent to Macedonia. Since we have only a truncated history in Acts, Paul could have gone with them to Philippi and then returned to Ephesus.
My takeaway from this post is threefold: First of all, if I am going to do something for God, I cannot use half measures. The seven sons of Sceva ended up naked and wounded because they were not ready for the task. Second of all, even if I fail when I try to do something for God, there will be some good that comes from it. (Rom 8:28) This was certainly the case with the seven sons of Sceva.
Thirdly, if you have questionable objects in your home, if you watch filth on the Internet, if you are smoking pot or engaging in other behavior that is not pleasing to the Holy Spirit, you are going to be like the children of Israel who were wandering around in the desert for 40 years, defeated. They should have been in the Promised Land, but they doubted and failed. (I Cor 6:9f)
The Book of Joshua, on the other hand, is a picture of the victorious Christian life. When Achan, the Son of Carmi, committed a trespass in the accursed thing (Joshua 7), he was dealt with swiftly, and the victory continued as Joshua led them in the Promised Land. We have a similar situation in I Corinthians 5, with one notable difference: Unlike Achan, Paul told them to welcome the sinner back after he repented. (II Cor 2:7) We are under grace, not law. When we trust Jesus and obey Him, He leads us into a Land of Promises. (I Cor 6:11)
In conclusion, Christianity is not a game. If we are going to live the victorious Christian life (John 10:10), we have to do what the Christians in Ephesus did. They got rid of anything that was not pleasing to the Holy Spirit and were dedicated to the word of God. We will never be perfect; even Paul said he had not apprehended, but we have to do our best. That is all any of us can do. (Phil 3:13f)
In our next post, Paul is going to get into trouble with some of the local tradesmen in Ephesus. Paul was the ultimate change agent, and change can be messy.
Father, thank You for the history we have recorded for us by Dr Luke, and for keeping your promise to preserve it for us. Your word is a treasure like none other. Your precepts are life everlasting. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
PS: For an advanced study on spiritual warfare, I recommend Blood on the Doorposts (Chick Publications, 1994), by William Schnoebelen. Understanding the principles of spiritual warfare is very helpful, even if you do not plan on going into the deliverance ministry. All of us deal with spiritual warfare, and Satan is alive and well on planet earth. He will be locked up one day, but for now, the Bible calls him the god of this world. (II Cor 4:4) For example, here is a picture I took in Rome. Apparently, this is where you go to buy your costume if you get invited to the Illuminati Ball:
