Articles
Truth and Money - Acts 19
Jewish Exorcists - Acts 19
As we open the NT we are introduced to the concept of demons taking over people’s minds and bodies.
Jesus would command them to come out and they obeyed. Jesus gave such authority to his apostles and they too cast out demons. Paul came to Ephesus and also commanded demons to go out of these people who were possessed - and they did.
Among the Jewish people, there were those who also attempted to wield such power over the evil spirits. Not knowing and not following Jesus, they reasoned that such power over demons was to be found in ‘magical’ amulets or phrases.
Here, these exorcists attempted to use the name of Jesus as their magical phrase. They were NOT acting in the name of Jesus as they were not in fellowship with Him. Josephus recorded a similar incident. "I have observed a certain Eleazar, of my race, in the presence of Vespasian, his sons, tribunes and a number of other soldiers, release people possessed by demons. Now this was the manner of the cure: Placing to the nostrils of the demon possessed person the ring which had under the seal a root which Solomon had prescribed, he then, as the person smelled it, drew out the demon through the nostrils. When the person fell down, he adjured the demon, speaking Solomon's name and repeating the incantations that he had composed, never to re-enter him.” (Antiquities of the Jews 8.46-49). Notice that this supposed exorcist used a ‘ring’, a ‘root’, Solomon’s name, and incantations.
It is NOT the phrase but Jesus who has the power. It is not having the special trinket that gives power over demons but Jesus working through His chosen representatives. While deceived people, both then and now, may not understand the difference, the demons KNEW the person and power of Jesus. They knew who spoke with HIS authority. They obeyed what was commanded by and through Jesus.
If those who attempted to fool people with their supposed magic, incantations, amulets, and such, were all dealt with as these exorcists in Acts 19, there would be far less such nonsense.
Jesus I know, but who are these? Can we say this? Hugh DeLong
