An Examination of Acts 19:11-20

What is a miracle? What is the purpose of miracles? What do you think the greatest miracle is? Are there still miracles today? If not, why not? Have you personally seen a miracle? These are all interesting questions as we approach this section of Acts, which deals with some admittedly strange things.

1. Setting the scene, 19:11-12

God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.

These two verses belie the fact that Paul had great difficulties while staying in Ephesus. We know from his Corinthian correspondence that conditions in Corinth weighed very heavily upon his heart. We also know that he faced some pretty stiff Jewish opposition there, as well as “the Demetrius incident” (verse4s 23-41). But Luke doesn’t mention those things in any detail, choosing rather to state the positive aspect of Paul’s ministry. Luke sums up Paul’s Ephesian ministry by speaking of “extraordinary miracles.” The Greek literally means “miracles not of the ordinary kind,” which is a strange way to describe a miracle. Of course, we are talking about men who were routinely used by God to work wonders. It is evident from the life of Christ and the ministry of the early Church that God was concerned in both the bodies and the souls of men. It is also evident that the miraculous was not uncommon in the early years of the Church.

Luke describes two types of miracles, which he deems as “extraordinary.”

First, what we would call “direct healings” through the laying on of Paul’s hands. While the NIV fails to indicate that this happened, other versions acknowledge the Greek dia ton cheiron Paulou (through the hands of Paul). And second, “indirect healings” through people coming in contact with Paul’s clothing.

A lot Bible commentators have difficulty with the account of sick people being cured by the touch of Paul’s aprons and sweat-cloths. In fact, there are reputable scholars who down play this by chocking the account up to a pious legend, suggesting these healing never really happened. However, a couple of observations. First, Luke gives no indication that these people worshiped Paul or that they idolized his articles of clothing. John Calvin pointed out that worthless things were chosen so that people might not fall into superstition and idolatry. (Calvin, Acts of the Apostles)

These pieces of cloth, which Paul used and wore at work, did not cause any of the healings. What are witnessing is an accommodation to man on God’s part. The weakness of man’s faith often demands something tangible. We know that the Ephesians were a very superstitious people and that Ephesus was home to all manner of magic and superstition. God was simply relating to them in a way that they found easy to understand.

The focus in Luke’s account is on God; for He is the one who heals people physically and through the preaching of the Gospel, restores them spiritually. That is the end-goal of the miraculous: God demonstrates His power so that people may turn to Him in faith and obtain salvation. As Kistemaker observes that miracles and faith are two sides of the same coin.

[H]ow shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. (Hebrews 2:3-4)

As far as we know, Paul is the only person in the NT who had been granted this special “power.” Dr. McGee suggests that “it is almost blasphemous for anyone to send out a little handkerchief and claim there is special power in it,” and I am in agreement with that statement.

2. Religious Opportunists, verses 13-16

Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. (O ne day) the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” 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.

Here we see opportunists jumping on the miracle bandwagon. Remember, Ephesus was big on magic and superstition, news of what Paul did spread and, as is always the case, there were people who thought they can “cash in” on good thing. These are the kind of people who believe the name of Jesus is simply a magical talisman. Luke identifies them as “the seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest.” They were not Christians; they were not true believers, they were what was known as “Jewish exorcists.”

When these seven exorcists tried to use a more powerful name in their shtick, they found a dark spiritual reality far beyond their ability to cope. The demonic spirit actually spoke to Sceva’s sons, using the possessed man’s vocal cords, saying, Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you? Two different Greek words are used; the demons knew Jesus well, but were merely acquainted with Paul.

Richard Longnecker puts it this way:

The name of Jesus, like an unfamiliar weapon misused, exploded in their hands; and they were taught a lesson about the danger of using the name of Jesus in their dabbling in the supernatural.

The demon knew the power of Jesus would flow from Himself into Paul, overpowering the demon. But with these sons, of Sceva, they were easily overpowered, all seven of them, but one man, possessed. In fact, they received such a beating that they came within an inch of losing their lives!

3. Results of a miracle, verses 17-20

When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.

Despite the violence that just occurred, God was in total control the situation. Far from a negative effect, the incident with the demon possessed man caused the name of Jesus to be spread through the whole pagan city of Ephesus. All who had either witnessed the attack on the seven sons of Sceva, or heard about it, were overcome by a reverential fear and came to honor and respect Jesus. Indeed, even more than that, the name of Jesus became the topic of conversation all around town.

Here is an obvious parallel with the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira. At that time, we read this in Acts 5:11, great fear came upon the whole church and all who heard these things. Ralph Earle makes an astute observation, Fear often produces conviction and creates honesty.

On the negative side, this event taught people not to misuse the name of Jesus or treat it lightly, because it’s powerful. Positively, many Christians renounced their secret acts of magic, and apparently, some sorcerers or magicians fell under conviction and were converted. As a sign of their new commitment to Christ, they burned their scrolls. How serious was this? The estimated cost of those scrolls, in today’s American dollars, tops $20,000.

No wonder the church in Ephesus experienced phenomenal growth during Paul’s three year tenure there in that city. His preaching of the Word (20:31) was followed by signs and wonders and people’s lives changed.

4. Lessons for today

In this group of verses, we can learn some very valuable lessons about how God works and why He does the things He does.

(a) Miracles happened for a reason. We see two miracles in these verses. First, the “extraordinary miracles” God performed through Paul; miracles of healing, restoration and cleansing. Second, we see how the debacle with the sons of Sceva worked for God, when it could have worked against Him.

(b) The name of Jesus is not a magic talisman and sticking His name on end of prayer is a guarantee of nothing. Just because someone prays in the name of Jesus does not mean they are right with God or praying in God’s will. There are religious opportunists all around today, men and women who seek to take advantage of the goodwill of Christians who want to trust everybody. The bible’s advice is clear: test the spirits to see if they are from God or not.