Acts 19:16

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The text records a man possessed by an evil spirit violently attacking seven sons of a Jewish chief priest who were attempting to invoke Jesus' name. This assault occurs immediately after the spirit declares he recognizes Jesus and Paul but refuses to acknowledge the men's authority.

The words — ἐφαλόμενος (ephalomenos) translates literally as "having leapt," describing the sudden physical pounce of the demon-possessed man. The phrase also contains αὐτοὺς (autous), meaning "them," which specifies the seven sons as the direct targets of the overpowering.

The thread — The narrative parallels other biblical encounters with unclean spirits, such as the demoniac in Mark 5:3 and Luke 8:29 who resisted physical restraints, and the clothed, sane man in Mark 5:15 who was previously overpowered by demons. These references trace a consistent pattern of demonic violence and the subsequent demonstration of Jesus' supreme authority.

Why it lands — The passage plainly states that a spirit can overpower those who attempt to use Jesus' name without genuine authority. It requires readers to abandon formulaic spiritual manipulation and submit exclusively to the Lord Jesus.

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 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.

Cross-references

Mark 5:3 This man had been living in the tombs and could no longer be restrained, even with chains.
Luke 8:29 For Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was bound with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains and been driven by the demon into solitary places.
Mark 5:15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons sitting there, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.
Luke 8:35 So the people went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man whom the demons had left, sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.