Paul Performs Extraordinary Miracles: Acts 19:11-12

In this passage, Paul continues his fruitful ministry in the city of Ephesus. The text reads, “And God was performing extraordinary miracles by the had of Paul.” (Acts 19:11). Concerning this verse, Gareth Reese writes,

“That Luke should pick this particular item to comment on, out of all the possible things from a three-year ministry, must have been because these extraordinary miracles were intended to offset the magical practices so common among the Ephesians. In a city where demonic ‘miracles’ were commonplace, it would take extraordinary miracles to credential the true message from God that Paul was delivering.”

In Acts 19:12, Luke tells us that many came to be healed by Paul. We must remember that God is the source of power behind genuine miracles. The end of verse 12 reads, “and the diseases left them and the evil spirit went out.” We must always remember that when God uses men like Paul to preform miracles, He is behind them all the way.

Acts 19:13-16– Jewish Exorcists Try to Duplicate The Miracles of Paul.

When God shows forth His power and attributes for good, and many are being healed and hearing about the message of the saving grace of the Lord Jesus, Satan appears on the scene. He uses many ways of trying to deny the power of Jesus. He, as in this passage, uses some people, who you would think would have nothing to do with his evil ways. We see here him using Jewish exorcists. These exorcists attempted to say that they were doing it with the same authority that Paul claimed. Acts 19:13 reads, “But also some of the Jews exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying,’I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.’”

Concerning these who, as the text reads, went from place to place, Garreth Reese writes,

“Between the years AD 50 and 100, there were numerous such Jews in the Roman Empire who went around hoodwinking people by magic. They traveled wherever there was any prospect of gaining monetary advantage by their exorcisms.”

Luke tells us that these false teachers and exorcists tried to piggy-bank on what they heard from Paul. What I mean is that they thought if they used the same language Paul used, and claimed to do their “miracles” through the name of Jesus, they would have the same success that Paul had. But we know that God does not work that way.

In verse 14, we learn about some more folks who try to imitate what Paul was doing. Verse 14 reads, “And seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish priest were doing this.” Reese writes, “Many tried to use the name of Jesus as part of an oath over the demons, among whom were these seven boys. It didn’t turn for them like it did when Paul spoke these word as he cast out demons.”

In verse 15, Luke tells us the outcome of their folly. We’re told in other scriptures, that even the demons believe. They know who Jesus is, and know their eternal fate. In this passage, the evil spirit speaks and acknowledges the power of God. He rebukes these Jewish exorcists.

Acts 19:17-20: Many Come To The Lord in Ephesus.

Acts 19:17 tells us: The news of what happened to the seven sons of Sceva spread quickly through the city of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. The power of the Almighty God was evident. We’re also told that fear came upon them. Probably the most important thing related was that the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified. Concerning verse 17, Garreth Reese writes,

“Men would also be more and more aware that the miracles performed in the name of the Lord Jesus by Paul were genuine, and were worked to accredit the truth of the doctrine he taught. Occultists and spiritists came to see that the counterfeit miracles they worked were second rate, and that those who practiced such arts only exposed themselves to the rage of the evil spirits.”

Acts 19:18-19 further informs us that many believed in and confessed the name of the Lord Jesus. As a result of their conversion and following Jesus, they, as verse 19 reads, “And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of all; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.”

In Acts 19:20, Luke tells some more good news; the Word of the Lord Jesus was growing mightily.