Bible Strands
Acts 19:17
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records the immediate aftermath of the violent exorcism failure, addressing the entire population of Jews and Greeks in Ephesus. The account captures a collective shift in public perception following the demonstrated limits of human ritual power.
The words — τοῦτο (touto) = This and γνωστὸν (gnōston) = known. The construction indicates that the specific event itself became publicly recognized rather than remaining concealed.
The thread — The reaction mirrors the "great fear" recorded in Acts 5:5 and Acts 5:11 following divine judgments, while the exaltation of Jesus' name parallels the glorification theme in 2 Thessalonians 1:12. These passages link divine intervention with public reverence and the elevated status of Christ.
Why it lands — The text demands a concrete acknowledgment of Jesus' authority that produces observable fear and public confession, as demonstrated by the subsequent disclosures in Acts 19:18. Readers must align their response with the demonstrated reality of the Lord's name rather than treating it as a mere formula.
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 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.
Cross-references
- 2 Thessalonians 1:12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Acts 5:5 On hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great fear came over all who heard what had happened.
- Acts 5:11 And great fear came over the whole church and all who heard about these events.
- Acts 13:12 When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.
- Philippians 1:20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
- Philippians 2:9 Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names,
- 2 Thessalonians 3:1 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread quickly and be held in honor, just as it was with you.
- Leviticus 10:3 Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD meant when He said: ‘To those who come near Me I will show My holiness, and in the sight of all the people I will reveal My glory.’” But Aaron remained silent.
- 1 Samuel 6:20 The men of Beth-shemesh asked, “Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God? To whom should the ark go up from here?”
- 2 Samuel 6:9 That day David feared the LORD and asked, “How can the ark of the LORD ever come to me?”