There are times we enjoy humor. In response to a funny clip sent me via WhatsApp recently, I responded … “I needed that. I needed to laugh.” Sadly though, when other things happen, such as what people ought not to do, we tend enjoy it when judgment or punishment is passed quickly. I cannot speak for you, but in reading the next few verses in Acts 19, I had both laughter and joy in my heart. It’s almost as if God has a sense of humor … though judgment is not funny. Please read
Ac 19:14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.
As we saw yesterday, there were ‘exorcists’ trying to do what Paul did … invoking the name of Jesus to perform exorcisms for gain … they said … “In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.”
1) A difficult sentence:
Ac 19:14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.
(1) A Jewish chief priest. Scholars have debated who this could have been. Some felt he was part of the High Priestly number from Jerusalem. It is likely that one of them retired to Ephesus. Others believe the title “chief priest” refers to the worship of the goddess Diana and he was an apostate Jew … meaning he was a Jew by birth not by religious persuasion. They say the name “Sceva” was used in both Greek and Latin writings, not in Jewish writings. Both these suggestions are plausible, though I tend to lean to Sceva being associated with pagan religion as in the worship of Diana.
(2) Sceva had seven sons. Often ‘seven’ or ‘7’ is used symbolically such as in the Book of Revelation. Here it is a fix number. These seven sons practiced exorcism and most likely did so for a living.
(3) Putting these sons profession and their father’s chief-priesthood together seems to indicate they were followers of the goddess Diana.
2) The danger of working with evil spirits. Irrespective who you are and what your Christian station and designation is, do not take evil, evil spirits (demons) or the evil one (satan) lightly. Do not think you are able to exorcise demons and do not think this is easy or a quick matter to fix.
Ac 19:15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.
(1) These seven sons went about trying to perform exorcisms. They came upon a man who had an evil spirit and used the “formula” … “In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” Remember they were not followers of Jesus and only sought to collect money through doing this. The evil spirit indwelling the man responded by saying … “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” All evil spirits (demons) were once angels in heaven. Together with their leader Lucifer who wanted to be like God, were cast out of heaven. They know whom God is! They, better than any other know God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They know Jesus is God. As an example … look at this:
Mk 1:21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, 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!”
Then, because of Paul’s ministry, the evil spirits knew who he was as well. Jesus is God and Jesus is behind Paul. No one messes with them … but who are you?” Who are you seven? What powers do you have? What right have you to command me? Are we not on the same side? Don’t we all serve the devil in opposition to God? (For that is what the worship of Diana was!)
(2) Evil beating up evil.
Ac 19:16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.
Observe the horrific power of the evil spirit as he empowers the man indwelt. One against seven! They received such a beating that they fled from the house they were in (maybe the man’s house) without their clothing and bleeding. The meaning of the sentence … jumped on them and overpowered them all … means that the man with the evil spirit jumped on them, mastered them by bringing them under his power, by using his strength, violently conquering them to the point of them being left with little clothing on, full of bleeding wounds. In case you think this is fanciful … read:
Lk 8:27 When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” 29 For Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.
This is not divine power … it is demonic power.
(3) What is interesting is that we don’t hear of this high priest and his sons again … neither are we informed whether this man with the evil spirit was healed.
3) There are lessons to learn here …
(a) Be careful not to use the Name of God or of the Lord Jesus in vain. This is a serious offense because to touch God’s name is to touch His character and being. Remember:
Ex 20:7 “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.”
Where this is a general commandment to everyone in the world, it is a specific commandment to those who are followers of the Lord Jesus. Whatever we do, be it in public or private we do in the name of the Lord Jesus. We are His representatives wherever we are and whatever we do. We carry His name all the time for we are always Christians … always His children … He is always the one who redeemed us from the slave market of satan. Like all the commandments, this one is hard to keep … and perhaps it is the hardest one to honor because it is linked to the previous one about idols. Each time we dip into idolatry (whatever the shape of it might be) we take His name in vain. The way we use our minds, eyes, ears, mouths, feelings and our actions fall into the ambit of being His representative! Beloved may we long to be holy and live holy lives in honor of Jesus and His holy name.
(b) Never play around with evil. Even to joke about the devil ought to be avoided. He is not a little red man with pointed ears and a devil’s fork. He is a real person … an evil force who not only caused our first parents to fall from grace, he was behind Cain killing Able, the wicked rebellion that led to the Universal Flood, the confusion of languages at Babel, the wars Israel fought, the exiles of both northern and southern kingdoms, every present war, all mayhem in all countries, all divorces, murders, theft, etc. He is an enemy of God and His people. He is powerful, deceitful and cunning. Don’t play with him. Jesus dealt with him at Calvary and he shall be banished to the eternal pit of burning sulfur with all his demons and all who reject Jesus. Don’t play with the enemy!
Father God, thank You for the protection of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Help us to live in surrender to Your Rule, gaining victory over the enemy as we remain focused on Your Word and in Prayer. Amen.