Acts 19:13

"But certain also of the strolling Jews, exorcists, took upon them to name over them that had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying,. adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth"But" In contrast to the miracles that Paul performed. "Strolling Jews" "Lit., going about" (Vincent p. 552). "These exorcists traveled around from place to place like modern Gypsy fortune-tellers" (Robertson p. 317). "Exorcists" Meaning "one who binds by an oath or spell". "It was. regular thing for the Jews to be exorcists; there seemed to be. special power in the use of the specially sacred Divine Name that only the Jews would know" (Reese p. 678). "Among practioners of magic in ancient times Jews enjoyed. high respect, for they were believed to have specially effective spells at their command. In particular, the fact that the name of the God of Israel was not to be pronounced by vulgar lips was generally known among the pagans" (Bruce p. 390). The following passages may indicate that prior to the Great Commission, some among the Jews could cast out demons (Matthew 12:27; Mark 9:38). But certain facts cause me to hedge: (a) Why were so many demon possessed individuals brought to Jesus, if others had the same power? (b) Why did the miracles of Jesus make such an impact upon the multitudes, if in fact others had been doing similar things?. am inclined to agree with McGarvey concerning the men mentioned in this context (Acts 19:1) that they were fakes. "These exorcists, as their title indicates, pretended to the power of casting out demons; and they appeared to the people to succeed often enough to keep up some reputation" (McGarvey p. 156). Lest anyone should argue that these men could not have made. living by not healing anyone,. simply point them to the well-to-do tele-evangelists and faith-healers who make. good living without healing anyone either.

Acts 19:13 "Took upon them to name over them that had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus" "Undertook to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits" (RSV).

This statement seems to confirm the conclusion that these men were fakes because if they really could cast out demons, then why did they change their methods? Why were they so willing to discard their previous formula for the "name of Jesus"? This verse infers that these men either heard about or personally witnessed the healings performed by Paul. They thought that the "name of Jesus" was. magical incantation,. formula that had power for anyone that would use it. They obviously copied Paul's actions so quickly, because Paul actually healed people. What Paul did worked!

Acts 19:13 "I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches" "They substituted the name they heard Paul use for the old names they had been using in their incantations" (Reese p. 679). "Adjure" To solemnly enjoin. They believed that the key to casting out demons resided in the right formula or expression of words. They thought that the "name" of Jesus was. magical formula that would put the demons in their power.