A comparison of the sons of sceva to the american church. After rising from the dead, jesus met with his disciples and followers, giving convincing proofs that he was alive. Here is presented by luke the story of certain christians who needed rebaptism acts 19. Some were hardened and did not believe spoke evil of the way 3. Ephesus theater acts 19 bible study questions handout. There was a chief priest there by the name of sceva whose sons were apparently either exorcists by practice or were capitalizing on the work paul was doing. Joseph a alexander acts commentary 1857, 1866 over pages. David guzik commentary on acts 19, where paul, on his third missionary journey. Book of acts overview insight for living ministries. Also there were seven sons of sceva, a jewish chief priest, who did so. Also described, depending on the translation, as a vagabond or itinerant priest, sceva was the father of seven sons living in the city of ephesus during the time of pauls missionary work. In comparing the work of paul with that of the seven sons of sceva, the ephesians could readily see the difference between the power of christ and the impotency of pretenders. Acts is a transitional book in the sense that it gives us the record of the way god moved in the minds and hearts of men to found and establish the church and begin its great work in the world today. Read commentary on this popular bible verse and understand the real meaning.
This work, originally out in 1857, has proved helpful to many, though it is now far out of date as to literature commenting on acts. This title accurately reflects the contents of the book, which is a series of vignettes chronicling the lives of key apostles especially peter and paul in. The details recorded by luke are bizarre and far removed from my experience. Members of the jewish synagogue in ephesus had wanted paul to stay, but he said that he would return another time if god willed acts 18. Top 5 commentaries on the book of acts ligonier ministries. The result of the demons attack on the seven sons of sceva was that everyone in ephesus was seized with fear, and the name of the lord jesus was held in high honor acts 19. Try to cast evil spirits out of people, saying, we exorcise you by the jesus whom paul preaches acts 19. The seven sons of sceva were the sons of a jewish chief priest acts 19. He preaches for three months in the synagogues, act 19. Biblical commentators resolve this discrepancy by stating that sceva must have been a jewish man who became a. You can find the best commentary on acts for you using the tools on the right side.
If the seven sons of a jewish chief priest are going to refer. Seven sons of a jewish man named sceva think that they have. Paul departed from them, withdrew the disciples and taught in the school of tyrannus 4. Acts 19 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on. The seven sons of sceva were no match for the demonic power they were toying with see mark 5. Acts 19 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on the. T he book of acts in the bible, written around 6263 a. Pelikans thematic approach 3 themes per chapter makes this commentary more suitable for topical preaching than for full, versebyverse exposition of the book of acts. Matthew pooles commentary one of the chief of the twentyfour courses into which the priests were divided, 1 chronicles 24. He had seven sons, who took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the lord jesus, in imitation of paul.
Now the record of pauls third missionary journey, which starts at acts 18. Handkerchiefs and aprons brought from paul drove out diseases and. Acts brazos theological commentary on the bible kindle. Biblical commentators resolve this discrepancy by stating that sceva must. Book of acts matthew henrys bible commentary concise.
In the book of acts, magic is most often associated with judaism. And it happened, while apollos was at corinth, that paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to ephesus. Preachers and teachers will want to supplement pelikans volume with a more exegetical acts commentary that addresses the text of the book in its entirety. Also there were seven sons of sceva, a jewish chief priest, who. Seven sons of one sceva all fathers, but especially ministers, should use all utmost care that their children be well educated and instructed. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. Acts records what occurred, not what should occur every time.
Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the new testament. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of god. When paul was on his third missionary journey in ephesus acts 19. According to clint arnold, jewish magic was famous in the ancient world acts, 193. Catholic press association book award winner acts has all the marks of pelikans scholarship. Although there was no high priest in jerusalem by this name, some scholars note that it was not uncommon for some members of the zadokite clan sons of zadok to. The sons of sceva now there were some itinerant jewish exorcists who tried to invoke the name of the lord jesus over those with evil spirits. It is sad to see the house of jacob thus degenerated, much more the house of aaron, the family that was in a peculiar manner consecrated to god. In acts 19, there is a group of itinerant exorcists, who are sons of the priest sceva. Other magicians and exorcists had to be amazed at what had happened to the sons of sceva, even if they were not willing to have a saving faith in the lord jesus acts, 582. The great temple of artemis was located there and was as familiar to the people of that day as the golden gate bridge is to us.
The sons of sceva, likewise, were jews, of the high priestly family. Perhaps burning their scrolls is an act of self preservation, as witherington puts it. Ephesian disciples are baptized in the holy spirit. Although there was no high priest in jerusalem by this name, some scholars note that it was not uncommon for some members of the zadokite clan sons of zadok to take on an unofficial highpriestly role, which may. Acts free bible commentary on the book of acts in easy english. Salvation is a personal relationship which involves the whole person, but often this is a progressive experience as the relationship deepens and more. Pastor bob walks us through the exciting paralysis adventure of the early church order, a new testament commentary on acts at bobby indian dot com or call 918 25 zero 22 zero seven. Bobby indian ministries is training up a new generation in the word of god because of your generosity and faithfulness this teaching ministry is able to change. How he laboured there in the word and doctrine, how. The temple in this book called acts was the third temple. In his next scene, luke gives a sharp and humorous contrast. Jan 02, 2020 the seven sons of sceva were no match for the demonic power they were toying with see mark 5. The seven sons of sceva the high priest taylor marshall.
Sceva chief of the priestshead, possibly, of one of the twentyfour courts. An immense amount of apostolic service is left unrecorded, and mention is made of just a few incidents which serve to show the way the spirit of god operated in bearing witness to the risen and exalted jesus, and in conducting the disciples into the fulness of christian blessing. We do not recommend loose translations or oneman translations. I would not choose to preach a sermon on the seven sons of sceva but for the fact that i am working my way through the book of acts. The book of acts itself should warn modern interpreters not to be dogmatic in the necessary elements and order of salvation. Bruce, the book of acts new international commentary on the new. Chief of the priests this cannot mean that he was high priest among the jews, as it is wholly improbable that his sons would be wandering exorcists. If one looks down the list of high priests, there is not a high priest in jerusalem named sceva. A good study bible we recommend the following features. Most can be obtained from a good religious bookstore. The book of acts records that, in ephesus, god was performing extraordinary miracles through paul acts 19.
The acts is an historical book, but it is not mere history. In the 19th chapter of the acts of the apostles a fas cinating incident is described that could only have taken place in a world that took its demons seriously central figures in this mini drama were seven sons of a high priest by the name of sceva c the seven sons of sceva t their name has the ring of an act that might be booked into the. Study acts using matthew henrys bible commentary concise to better understand scripture with full outline and verse meaning. A commentary, 43839 the sons of sceva arrogate the authority of the name of jesus. Then some of the itinerant jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the lord jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, we exorcise you by the jesus whom paul preaches. Paul, coming to ephesus, finds certain disciples who had not received the gift of the holy ghost, knowing only the baptism of john, but receive it through the imposition of his hands, act 19. The title of the book of acts comes from the greek word praxis, a word often used in early christian literature to describe the great deeds of the apostles or other significant believers. We left paul in his circuit visiting the churches ch. It was a city devoted to sex and to religion in other words it was the san francisco of the roman empire.
If one is not in communion with the owner of the name, she is not in a position to use it. When paul came to ephesus he found the city in the grip of superstition, fear, demonism, and darkness. Acts 19 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. Study guide for acts 19 by david guzik blue letter bible. Judaism had so turned from faith in god that they had resorted to magic instead. Many being hardened, he leaves the synagogues, and teaches daily in the school of tyrannus for two years, act. They would say, i bind you by jesus, whom paul proclaims. For many basic details verse by verse, it still is of good value and often will help on word meaning and. Acts by jaroslav pelikan 9781587430947 best commentaries. Commentary on the book of acts of the apostles by matthew. Paul continues there 2 years all in asia heard the word of the lord c. While there are some areas of great detail of the acts of the apostles, many times you must use cross references to the gospels of matthew, mark, luke and john as well as some other epistles in the new testament to get the full picture of what was.
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