Acts 19:13-22

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 19:13-20

The preachers of the gospel were sent forth to carry on a war against Satan, and therein Christ went forth conquering and to conquer. The casting of evil spirits out of those that were possessed was one instance of Christ's victory over Satan; but, to show in how many ways Christ triumphed over that great enemy, we have here in these verses two remarkable instances of the conquest of Satan, not only in those that were violently possessed by him, but in those that were voluntarily devoted to... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 19:21-41

I. Paul is here brought into some trouble at Ephesus, just when he is forecasting to go thence, and to cut out work for himself elsewhere. See here, 1. How he laid his purpose of going to other places, Acts 19:21, 22. He was a man of vast designs for God, and was for making his influences as widely diffusive as might be. Having spent above two years at Ephesus, (1.) He designed a visit to the churches of Macedonia and Achaia, especially of Philippi and Corinth, the chief cities of those... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 19:13-20

19:13-20 Some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists tried naming the name of Jesus over those who had evil spirits. They said, "I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches." There were seven sons of a certain Scaeva, a Jewish chief priest. who did this. The evil spirit answered them. "Jesus I know and Paul I understand, but who are you?" And the man, in whom the evil spirit was, leaped on them and mastered them all and overpowered them so that they fled naked and battered from that house. This... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 19:21-22

19:21-22 When everything was completed, Paul purposed in the Spirit to go through Macedonia and go to Jerusalem. He said, "After I have been there I must see Rome too." He sent Timothy and Erastus, two of his helpers, into Macedonia and he himself extended his stay in Asia. It is only by the merest hint that Luke gives us an indication here of something which is filled out in Paul's letters. He tells us that Paul purposed to go to Jerusalem. The church in Jerusalem was poor; and Paul aimed... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 19:13

Then certain of the vagabond Jews ,.... Who strolled about from place to place, pretending to tell fortunes, cure diseases by charms, and dispossess devils by conjuration, and therefore are called as follows, exorcists ; such there were among the Jews, as Justin Martyr observes F8 Dialog. cum Tryphon. p. 311. , who adjured by the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: these took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits, the name of the Lord Jesus ; they imitated the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 19:14

And there were seven sons of one Sceva a Jew ,.... Who strolled about the country, and used exorcisms: and chief of the priests ; that were at Ephesus; not the high priest of the Jews, for he would have been at Jerusalem, and not at Ephesus; though indeed it does not necessarily follow from the words, that Sceva himself was there, only his seven sons: however, no such name appears in the catalogue of the Jewish high priests, nor is it reasonable to think, that seven sons of an high... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 19:15

And the evil spirit answered and said ,.... The Alexandrian copy, the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions, add, "to them"; to the seven sons of Sceva: Jesus I know ; to be the Son of God and Messiah, and own that he has power of dispossessing spirits, of which there were many instances in the days of his flesh: and Paul I know ; and own to be a servant of the most high God, by whom miracles of this kind have been wrought: but who are ye ? you are not the disciples of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 19:16

And the man in whom the evil spirit was ,.... Being agitated by him: leapt upon them ; with great agility and force, and laid hold on them, and struggled with them, and beat and wounded them, and stripped them naked: and overcame them, and prevailed against them ; the Alexandrian copy, Beza's most ancient one, and some others, and the Vulgate Latin version read, "and overcame both"; as if only two of these seven sons had made this attempt, and were so used; though the Ethiopic... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 19:17

And this was known to all the Jews ,.... These men being Jews: and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus: for though it was done in a private house, yet there might be many spectators and witnesses, both Jews and Greeks, who spread this fact about the city, and who, were to be depended upon: and fear fell on them all ; on the enemies of Christ and his Gospel, so that others were deterred from making such an attempt for the future: and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified ; which had... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 19:18

And many that believed ,.... In Jesus Christ, whose name was spoken of with great respect, and which spread fear in every person: came ; to the apostle: and confessed ; their sins; and acknowledged what a wicked life they had led: and showed their deeds ; their former evil deeds, which they had been guilty of; one copy reads, "their sins"; see Matthew 3:6 . read more

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