The Third Missionary Journey
The Sons of Sceva
Acts 19:13-20 KJV 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. 14 And
there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which
did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I
know; but who are ye? 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. 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. 20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
Introduction
The incident that is under consideration is a rather unusual recording. It seems that we can draw the conclusion that this took place because of the handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched Paul were able to cast out demons.
Apparently, this prompted certain Jews to try to take advantage of it for themselves. Let us consider them.
The Sons of Sceva
The following quote gives us much information concerning these vagabond Jews.
The book of Acts records that, in Ephesus, God was
performing “extraordinary miracles through Paul” (Acts
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19:11). These apostolic miracles were to substantiate Paul’s
message. Some of these miracles involved casting
out demons from those who were possessed (verse 12).
Jesus had earlier given His apostles specific authority over
demons (Mark 3:15). Paul, as an apostle, had received that
authority as well (see 2 Corinthians 12:12).
There were some religious charlatans in Ephesus who
pretended to have special, miracle-working powers. Sceva,
who is identified as “a Jewish chief priest” (Acts 19:14),
had seven sons “who went around driving out evil spirits”
(verse 13). Seeing the success that Paul had in exorcising
demons, the seven sons of Sceva began using a new
formula invoking the name of Jesus. They would say to the
demon, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I
command you to come out” (verse 13).1
Just because that Paul was able to cast out demons, these deceivers thought they could also. To their much surprise, they were met with something they never expected to meet.
This ploy of Sceva’s seven sons backfired one day. A demon
they were trying to cast out refused, saying, “Jesus I know,
and Paul I know about, but who are you?” (Acts 19:15). The
demon then turned on them viciously. The demon-possessed
man “jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave
them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and
bleeding” (verse 16). The seven sons of Sceva were no match for the demonic power they were toying with
(see Mark 5:1–4).2
Many have tried to accomplish what the seven sons of Sceva were doing.
Many times, Satan allows this to happen just to further deceive people.
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Some Catholic priests claim to accomplish the casting out of demons. They have neither the power nor the authority to cast out demons.
The result of the demon’s attack on the seven sons of Sceva was that everyone in Ephesus was “seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor” (Acts 19:17). In comparing the work of Paul with that of the seven sons of Sceva, the Ephesians could readily see the difference between the power of Christ and the impotency of pretenders.
The gospel made great inroads into that city (verses 20 and 26).
We learn several things from the account of the seven sons of Sceva. First, demons are dangerously powerful spirit beings—much stronger than we—
who can cause the people they possess to do incredibly violent and uncontrollable things. The seven sons of Sceva obviously didn’t have the proper respect for demons (see Jude 1:8–9). Second, demons recognize valid authority, and they fear God (see James 2:19). It’s important to note that the authority over demons belongs only to Jesus (see Luke 8:28, 31) and to those to whom Jesus gave it. The demon in Acts 19 says that it knows Jesus and Paul (one of Jesus’ chosen apostles). It refused to recognize any other authority in Ephesus. The demon’s question “who are you?” is chilling in its implications to the seven sons of Sceva and their total lack of authority.
Third, demons cannot be cast out via a formula or a ritual or invoking Jesus’
name. There is no power in incantations, even if they include the name of Christ. The power belongs to Jesus alone. Probably the greatest mistake the seven sons of Sceva made was their failure to realize that Paul was not doing the exorcisms. Jesus Christ was doing the exorcisms through Paul.
The problem faced by the seven sons of Sceva was that they had no power over the demon they confronted. They were not apostles. More than that, as religious as they were, they had no relationship with God. They were not believers in Christ. They did not possess the power or the presence of the Holy Spirit. There was nothing in them or their words that would cause a demon to pay them the slightest heed. One proud demon in particular seems 167
to have been fed up with their stage show and gave them a beating they would remember.3
Many Others and Exorcism
Matthew 7:22, 23 relate to us that through their lifetimes, there were many others who were doing the same things the seven sons of Sceva were doing.
Matthew 7:22, 23 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we
not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in
thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto
them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
I mentioned earlier that the Catholics still practice exorcism today. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, through their website usccb.org, still believe and teach exorcism. Their teaching is that it is a prayer that is in the category of sacramentals. Sacramentals are “sacred signs instituted by the Church.”4 This answer is under the question of “What is the difference between an exorcism and the Sacrament of Penance?” In continuation of the answer, this is stated: “The Sacrament of Penance forgives our sins and reconciles us to the Church, renewing Baptism and bestowing grace to fight evil and grow in virtue. As a sacramental, exorcism prepares one for the grace of the Sacrament.”5
Under the question “Is there a scriptural basis for exorcism?” this is the answer.
While the basis for exorcism is grounded in the ministry of Jesus Christ (cf. Mk 1:34, 39; Lk 4:35; Mt 17:18), there is no scriptural basis for a formal rite of exorcism apart from the use of the psalms and Gospel pericopes that were included in the rite of exorcism as it evolved.
What is clear, however, is that the Lord Jesus involved the disciples in his mission and through their commissioning continued the exorcistic work begun by Jesus himself (cf. Mt 10:8; Mk 3:14-15; 6:13; 16:17; Lk 9:1; 10:17). It was not a work they did in their own names, but in the name of the One who had bestowed it upon them. Thus the ministry of exorcism 168
continues in the life of the Church as part of the regular pastoral care of souls.6
From the information on their website, there is much about exorcism, who needs it, minor and major exorcism, who can perform it, under whose direction can it be done, and the training of an exorcist. The exorcist uses ritual symbols in the exorcism. Yet, we find in our text that the incantations used by seven sons of Sceva did not work. However, since the Catholic church claims to have all the authority that Jesus had, they feel they can teach and do whatever they think is correct, according to their interpretations of the scriptures.
The exorcist is given several formulas for the performing of exorcism. The exorcist can only be a bishop or a priest specially trained for exorcism. A priest so trained can only operate under the direction of a bishop. This all seems far removed from scripture to me.
The Results
The sons of Sceva may have failed in their attempt and the demon may have triumphed over them, but God is the One Who received the glory for the results of the event. The news of the failure of the sons of Sceva spread until it became a matter of common knowledge in Ephesus and the area round about. We see the results in verse seventeen. 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.
Just as a side note: I can guarantee that God does not get the glory and the Name of the Lord Jesus is not magnified in the dubious results of those who claim they can cast out demons today. While God MIGHT allow His children to be used in this way, it is His power and authority that accomplishes it. The problem is that today, I believe, there is no individual saved person who is dedicated to the Lord enough to be used this way.
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There was a great fear that fell on all the Jews and Greeks that were dwelling in Ephesus. Verse eighteen reveals to us that many confessed and were saved and as a result showed their deeds,
“… the deceptions, lying, beguiling, dishonest trickery in which they had engaged, in which they masqueraded. That their deeds were wicked was set forth in their own law. Like a man or woman seeking to justify their own adultery, lying, or theft, so long as it did not hurt their own families, these roving Jews were primarily making a trade of deceiving the Gentiles by lying chicanery, after the order of Jacob at his worst, all the time knowing that it was forbidden in their own law.”7
Many of them that were involved in the occult and exorcisms, brought their books together and had a big public bonfire! When the cost of the books destroyed was calculated, the price was found to be fifty thousand pieces of silver. One piece of silver was called a denarii, and one denarii was a day’s wages for a farm worker or other type of laborer. If that piece of silver was a talent, that would be worth a year’s wages for the same laborer. What would this amount be today in 2023? The best answer to that question would be $5.5 million for the silver denarii. The amount would be about $1.5
billion for the silver talent.8 Either way, it was worth a great deal of money.
I do not know about you but to me that is a very glorious result of the gospel being illustrated.
Conclusion
There is no better way to conclude than to read verse twenty: So mightily
grew the word of God and prevailed.
In the next part, we will consider what Paul wanted to do and what happened as a result of the recent events that took place in Ephesus.
1 https://www.gotquestions.org/seven-sons-of-Sceva.html
2 IBID
3 IBID
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4
https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacraments-and-sacramentals/sacramentals-blessings/exorcism
5 IBID
6 IBID
7 Albert Garner, Power Bible CD, his comments on verse eighteen 8 https://www.quora.com/How-many-dollars-today-would-equal-50-000-silver-coins-in-the-book-of-Acts-19-19
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