Acts 19:18

And many that believed i.e. who had made a profession of their faith. It was clearly as yet but an imperfect faith. The Rev. Ver." had believed" is the more correct tense.

came, and confessed Came before the Apostle and the Christian brethren, and in their fear owned that their profession had not been followed completely by their practice.

and shewed their deeds The verb implies "making a public announcement," therefore "declaring" (as R. V.) is perhaps nearer to the sense. The "deeds" were those courses of action, connected with witchcraft, sorcery, and exorcism, that were inconsistent with the Christian life. Thus "deeds of the body" is used for evildeeds only (Romans 8:13). Cp. Luke 23:51.