Bible Strands
Acts 19:15
But one day the evil spirit responded, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The evil spirit speaking through a man addressed the seven sons of Sceva during their attempt to invoke Jesus over an afflicted individual. This exchange occurs immediately after the brothers' ritual and directly precedes the violent retaliation described in Acts 19:16.
The words — The Greek ἀποκριθὲν (apokrithen) translates as "answering" or "responding," marking the spirit's direct reply to the brothers' command. The phrase τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ πονηρὸν (to pneuma to ponēron) literally means "the evil spirit," explicitly identifying the speaker's demonic nature.
The thread — This confrontation parallels the demon's recognition of Jesus in Mark 5:9 and mirrors the spiritual authority tested in Acts 16:17, where a spirit identifies Paul's divine mission. The incident contrasts with Mark 1:34, where Jesus silences demons rather than engaging their rhetorical challenges.
Why it lands — The text establishes that spiritual authority cannot be replicated through formulaic invocation or religious performance. It requires the reader to distinguish between genuine divine commission and presumptuous manipulation of sacred names.
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
And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
Cross-references
- Acts 16:17 This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!”
- Mark 1:34 And He healed many who were ill with various diseases and drove out many demons. But He would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.
- Mark 5:9 “What is your name?” Jesus asked. “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.”
- Luke 4:33 In the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon. He cried out in a loud voice,
- Mark 1:24 “What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
- Matthew 8:29 “What do You want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have You come here to torture us before the appointed time?”
- Luke 8:28 When the man saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before Him, shouting in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You not to torture me!”
- Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’”
- 1 Kings 22:21 Then a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ ‘By what means?’ asked the LORD.