God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that when the handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, their diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them. Then some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. Acts 19:11–14
Paul preaches and speaks in the synagogue at Ephesus for three months– boldly, persuasively about the Kingdom of God that has come in Jesus Christ. And when some stubbornly refuse to believe he takes the believers to the lecture hall of Tyrannus. The hall is consecrated by his preaching so that it becomes the school of the Lord Jesus Christ! He speaks each and every day, not just on the Sabbath but for two years so that all the folks in Asia, both Jews and Greeks, hear the Word of the Lord. During Paul’s time here the seven Churches of Asia are founded (Revelation 1:4).
While Paul and disciples are at Tyrannus’ philosopher’s lecture hall there are extraordinary miracles through Paul. Evil spirits cast out of people, the sick received Jesus’ healing, and Paul had handkerchiefs or aprons pressed against his skin by onlookers and when those cloths were brought to the sick then Jesus’ healing occurred.
Next, some Jewish exorcists and the seven sons of the chief priest Sceva try to use the name of Lord Jesus to cast out evil spirits and one evil spirit speaks up and says, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” v. 15. And the man with the evil spirit who just spoke these words tears off the son’s clothing and wounds them so they flee. News of this spreads quickly and great fear grips all, so much so that people openly confess their sins and give their lives to Christ This must have been something!
satan openly laughs at these son os Sceva who try to cast out evil from others because he convinces them they do not have faith in Jesus Christ in order to cast out. satan is subtle and crafty but not victorious. The Power of our faith in Jesus Christ cannot be overcome by satan– not then, not now, not ever. God’s Word in Jesus Christ penetrates our souls, gives Light to the darkest corners of our hearts and minds, and we too are prompted by the Holy Spirit to confess our sins and receive forgiveness which brings deeper faith in Him.
Ephesus was famous at that time for it’s people who worked dark arts of magic, that is up until this occurrence of this monumental Christ event ushered in by the Holy Spirit through Paul. After this event with Sceva’s sons and the flood of verbal public confessions, then arrives the Holy Spirit driven great Revival in Ephesus with the people turning from the darkness to Christ’s Light and Love. Oh how they praised Jesus that day!
Why, they also brought all the books about the dark arts to a book burning. After the books had been brought and burned hey computed the value of these books to be worth fifty thousand pieces of silver. So Powerfully did the Word of God grow in size and scale! So Victoriously wide-spread in the Holy Spirit’s Power to transform lives to be ever effective from that point on for Christianity/ The Kingdom of God/ Christ’s Revolution is found in The Way. ‘The Way’ is what other’s called this new Christian believers movement.
