Faking Spiritual Power

Acts 19:13-17

From the time the Assyrians conquered the kingdom of Israel and displaced the Jews in II Kings 17, the Jews had repeatedly been scattered among other countries, and frequently forced to move to other areas. Claudius’ order for all Jews to leave Rome was the most recent event, and had left many of the Jews homeless. The term vagabond is basically another word for a homeless or displaced person. Like the homeless of today, they were viewed wit a great deal of suspicion. Many were trying to support themselves however they could, and some had begun to use their religious beliefs to raise money. It is probable that some of the groups known as gypsies are descendants of some of these.

“Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.” (Acts 19:13)

Today there are dozens of clinics and counselors to help people with mental health issues. The same issues were common in that day, but were considered to be the result of demon possession. Exorcists were essentially the psychologists and psychiatrists of the day. These homeless Jews attempted to capitalize on the need by casting out the demons, using Jewish rituals.

A study several years ago comparing those who went to mental health practitioners to those who didn’t found only minor differences in either the number who improved, or the time it required, but those who went spent far more. Apparently these exorcists had not had significant results either. Having seen Paul’s successes, they attempted to use the same technique.

“And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.” (Acts 19:14)

Among the displaced Jews were seven sons of the chief priest in Jerusalem. Being very familiar with the Jewish and training, they were practicing exorcists themselves, and tried to copy Paul’s methods. The result was worse than what they’d been doing, because the evil spirit actually responded, instead of just ignoring them.

“And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.” (Acts 19:15-16)

A man had left his car running while he ran inside to get something. His two year old son climbed into the drivers seat and began pretending to drive. He shifted gears just as he’d seen his father do, and the car began to move. Fortunately, it hit a nearby tree before it gained much speed, and the father heard it.

The little boy was totally unprepared to actually drive the car, and could well have been seriously injured or killed by his action. The seven sons of Sceva had no ability to control the power that was unleashed in using Jesus’ name, and were hurt because of it.

Over the years, I have heard several “Evangelists” and pastors claim to cast out demons. Several of them have had serious mental problems themselves later, living in constant fear of demons. One was afraid to be in a building with the doors unlocked, while another dared not go to sleep until he had opened his Bible to keep the demons away. Others warned to keep children and spectators away because of the danger to any one who is close. Such fears did not come from God, as II Timothy 1:7 states. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

When we attempt to invoke God’s power in our own pride and self confidence, we expose ourselves and others to Satan’s power. The Holy Spirit is necessary to properly control his power. Our flesh is no more equipped to deal with Satan’s power than the little boy was to drive the car.

“And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.” (Acts 19:17)

The difference between real spiritual power and the attempt to duplicate it was clearly seen, with the result that even those who did not believe were forced to recognize that there was something there. It resulted in a spontaneous rejection of the old customs by the Christians.

“And many that believed came, and confessed, and showed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.” (Acts 19:18-20)

A few years ago, a pastor in New Mexico organized a burning of Harry Potter books in an attempt to duplicate this event. Others burned the Satanic Bible, or Ouija boards. In these cases it was a carefully organized event in which the people often had to first go and buy the materials to burn. These were people who had previously practiced these things who, like a lady who came to us, just wanted to get rid of reminders of what it had been like under Satan’s control. Anton Levay, the author of the Satanic Bible, commented that the more books they burned, the more money he made to spread Satanism. The publisher and author of the Harry Potter books, and the manufacturers of Ouija boards got a lot of free advertising, and sales boomed. When the Holy Spirit causes something, Satan doesn’t benefit.

“After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” (Acts 19:21)

The spirit here is not capitalized and refers to Paul’s spirit, not eh Holy Spirit. We use different terminology, to mean we have made up our mind and committed to doing something. It is this determination that led to the falling out between Paul and Barnabas, and it will lead to Paul’s imprisonment. Even Spirit filled men can decide to do things contrary to the Spirit, because the Holy spirit does not force us to do what he wants, but as I Corinthians 14: 32 states, “And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.” Romans 7 explains this at some length.

“So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.” (Acts 19:22)

It is this verse that leads me to believe I Timothy was written while Paul went down to Jerusalem after leaving his companions in Ephesus in Acts 18:19. I Corinthians appears to have been written during this same period, and in I Corinthians 16:8 Paul indicates his intent to leave Ephesus after Pentecost.