ACT 19:13-20

Seven Sons of Sceva

13Some itinerant Jewish exorcists also attempted to name the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying: "I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul proclaims." [19:14] There were seven sons of a Jewish chief priest named Sceva doing this. [19:15] But the evil spirit answered and said to them: "Jesus I know, and Paul I am acquainted with — but who are you?" [19:16] And the man with the evil spirit leaped upon them, overpowered them all, and so overpowered them that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. [19:17] This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived in Ephesus. Fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. [19:18] Many also of those who had believed came confessing and declaring their practices. [19:19] And a considerable number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. They counted up the value of them and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver. [19:20] So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing.

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st-century Greco-Roman world, magic and exorcism were widely practiced, often blending Jewish, Greek, and local traditions. Exorcists, whether Jewish or pagan, were itinerant figures who traveled from place to offer their services, often invoking divine names or spells to cast out spirits. The seven sons of Sceva, described as Jewish exorcists, likely belonged to this tradition. Their attempt to use the name of Jesus, whom Paul proclaimed, reflects the common practice of borrowing powerful names or deities for ritual purposes. However, the demon’s response underscores the inadequacy of such practices when divorced from genuine authority. The demon’s recognition of Jesus and Paul, contrasted with its dismissal of the exorcists, highlights the distinction between superficial invocation and authentic spiritual power rooted in relationship and authority. The subsequent public burning of magical scrolls in Ephesus, a city known for its fascination with magic, signals a dramatic renunciation of these practices by new followers of Jesus.

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How other translations render this

ACT 19:13

KJV: 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.
BSB: Now there were some itinerant Jewish exorcists who tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those with evil spirits. They would say, “I command you by Jesus, whom Paul proclaims.”
Koinōnos: Some itinerant Jewish exorcists also attempted to name the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying: "I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul proclaims.

ACT 19:14

KJV: And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
BSB: Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.
Koinōnos: There were seven sons of a Jewish chief priest named Sceva doing this.

ACT 19:15

KJV: And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
BSB: But one day one of the evil spirits responded them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?”
Koinōnos: But the evil spirit answered and said to them: "Jesus I know, and Paul I am acquainted with — but who are you?

ACT 19:16

KJV: 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.
BSB: Then the man with the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. The attack was so violent that they ran out of the house naked and wounded.
Koinōnos: And the man with the evil spirit leaped upon them, overpowered them all, and so overpowered them that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

ACT 19:17

KJV: 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.
BSB: This became known to all the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, and fear came over all of them. So the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.
Koinōnos: This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived in Ephesus. Fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

ACT 19:18

KJV: And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.
BSB: Many who had believed now came forward, confessing and disclosing their deeds.
Koinōnos: Many also of those who had believed came confessing and declaring their practices.

ACT 19:19

KJV: 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.
BSB: And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books and burned them in front of everyone. When the value of the books was calculated, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.
Koinōnos: And a considerable number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. They counted up the value of them and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.

ACT 19:20

KJV: So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
BSB: So the word of the Lord powerfully continued to spread and prevail.
Koinōnos: So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

ACT 19:13

itinerant:The word translated 'itinerant' describes someone who goes around from place to place, often with the connotation of wandering or even begging, rather than simply traveling.

ACT 19:15

Jesus:The word translated 'know' here implies a deep, experiential understanding or recognition, not just intellectual acquaintance with facts.
Paul:The word translated 'know' in this instance conveys a sense of understanding or being skilled in something, often implying a practical or learned knowledge.

ACT 19:19

magic arts:The term used here for 'magic arts' literally means 'meddlesome' or 'overly curious,' suggesting practices that involve prying into forbidden or supernatural matters.