Seven Sons of Sceva Acts 19:11-20 Gary Hiebsch

And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?”

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. 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. Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices.

And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily. Acts 19:11-20 (ESV) Acts 19:11-20 (ESV)

Three Items

Miraculous Powers Inhabiting Objects

There is some precedent for this:

The bones of Elisha. 2 Kings 13:21

There is some precedent for this: The bones of Elisha. 2 Kings 13:21 The woman with an issue of blood. Luke 8:43-48

There is some precedent for this: The bones of Elisha. 2 Kings 13:21 The woman with an issue of blood. Luke 8:43-48 Nobody made a profit.

There is some precedent for this: It is a demonstration of God’s grace and power in the world.

There is some precedent for this: It is a demonstration of God’s grace and power in the world. It is a picture into the fact that God’s kingdom fundamentally alters and will alter the world.

Three Items Miraculous Powers Inhabiting Objects Seven Sons of Sceva

Outside of this mention of these men we have no other descriptions of them.

Seven Sons of Sceva Outside of this mention of these men we have no other descriptions of them. All of this takes place in Ephesus: a city dedicated to Artemis. The city was a site of a great deal of spiritual warfare.

Seven Sons of Sceva Many people would have claimed the ability to cast out demons and break evil spells.

Seven Sons of Sceva Many people would have claimed the ability to cast out demons and break evil spells. Thus when Paul came along they saw an opportunity.

Seven Sons of Sceva They viewed Jesus as a useful new tool.

Seven Sons of Sceva They viewed Jesus as a useful new tool. They thought that they could cast out demons, impress the local population, and possibly get paid for all this by using this name.

Seven Sons of Sceva CALLING

CALLINGAUTHORIZATION

CALLINGAUTHORIZATIONMISSION

Three Items Miraculous Powers Inhabiting Objects Seven Sons of Sceva The Destruction of the Magic Books

The people had been hedging their bets.

The Destruction of the Magic Books The people had been hedging their bets. They now realized that Jesus was over all.

Three Questions

Have you submitted to God’s calling?

Three Questions Have you submitted to God’s calling? How are you hedging your bets?

Three Questions Have you submitted to God’s calling? How are you hedging your bets? Are you prepared to put away all those things, other than Christ, on which you rely?