Bible Strands
Acts 19:13
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.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — In Ephesus, wandering Jewish exorcists attempted to cast out demons by invoking Jesus' name, responding to reports of Paul's miraculous healings. They approached possessed individuals with a standardized formula rather than a personal commission.
The words — Ἐπεχείρησαν (Epecheirēsan) translates literally as "attempted," underscoring their lack of guaranteed authority. ἐξορκιστῶν (exorkistōn) identifies them as professional exorcists treating the divine name as a technical tool.
The thread — Matthew 12:27 and Luke 11:19 question the authority behind exorcisms performed by "your sons," while Mark 9:38 records John reporting an unknown exorcist operating apart from the disciples. These passages collectively examine the legitimacy of spiritual authority outside established apostolic commission.
Why it lands — It demands examination of whether one approaches Jesus as a personal Lord or merely uses his name as a spiritual mechanism. The text requires readers to verify their actual relationship and authority before engaging in spiritual conflict.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Matthew 12:27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
- Mark 9:38 John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone else driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not accompany us.”
- Luke 11:19 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
- Acts 8:18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money.
- Mark 5:7 And he shouted in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You before God not to torture me!”
- Luke 9:49 “Master,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not accompany us.”
- 1 Kings 22:16 But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear not to tell me anything but the truth in the name of the LORD?”
- Matthew 26:63 But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to Him, “I charge You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.”
- Joshua 6:26 At that time Joshua invoked this solemn oath: “Cursed before the LORD is the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho; at the cost of his firstborn he will lay its foundations; at the cost of his youngest he will set up its gates.”
- 1 Samuel 14:24 Now the men of Israel were in distress that day, for Saul had placed the troops under an oath, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the troops tasted any food.