Acts 19:11 kjv
And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
Acts 19:11 nkjv
Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul,
Acts 19:11 niv
God did extraordinary miracles through Paul,
Acts 19:11 esv
And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul,
Acts 19:11 nlt
God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles.
Acts 19 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Divine Power Through Man | ||
| Exod 7:3 | "But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt." | God's direct hand in performing wonders. |
| Jn 14:12 | "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father." | Believers empowered by Christ. |
| Lk 1:37 | "For nothing will be impossible with God." | God's absolute power. |
| Rom 15:19 | "...by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem and all around as far as Illyricum, I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;" | Paul's ministry confirmed by miracles. |
| Heb 2:4 | "...God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will." | Miracles as divine testimony. |
| Mk 16:20 | "And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by accompanying signs." | God confirms the word with signs. |
| Miracles Confirming Apostleship/Message | ||
| Acts 2:43 | "And fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles." | Apostles perform wonders. |
| Acts 3:6-8 | "But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And immediately his feet and ankles were made strong." | Peter's miraculous healing. |
| Acts 5:12 | "Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles." | Miracles as an ongoing apostolic activity. |
| 2 Cor 12:12 | "The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works." | Miracles validate Paul's apostleship. |
| God's Power Versus Opposing Forces | ||
| Acts 8:6-7 | "And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them..." | God's power triumphs over evil spirits. |
| Acts 13:6-12 | "...Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them...But Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, 'You son of the devil...you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.' Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him..." | God's power overcomes sorcery. |
| Lk 10:19 | "Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you." | Authority over evil. |
| 1 Jn 4:4 | "Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." | God's power in believers. |
| God's Agency, Not Man's | ||
| Psa 115:3 | "Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases." | God's sovereign will. |
| Zech 4:6 | "...Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord of hosts." | Emphasis on God's Spirit. |
| Isa 55:11 | "...So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." | God's word and work are effective. |
Acts 19 verses
Acts 19 11 Meaning
Acts 19:11 reveals that God Himself was actively and continuously performing exceptionally powerful and unusual miracles through the agency of the Apostle Paul. These were not common or ordinary displays of power but signs of a supernatural, divine origin, demonstrating God's unique authority and might in Ephesus.
Acts 19 11 Context
Acts 19 describes Paul's significant and impactful ministry in Ephesus, a prominent Roman provincial capital known for its devotion to Artemis (Diana) and widespread practice of magic and sorcery. This verse serves as the immediate precursor to the more detailed accounts of Paul's confrontational ministry against demonic powers and the dramatic impact of the Gospel, culminating in the burning of magic books (v. 19). The "extraordinary miracles" highlight the qualitative difference between the true power of God working through Paul and the deceptive, limited power attributed to the Ephesian deities and magic practitioners. This established God's unparalleled authority, preparing the ground for mass conversions and a challenge to the deeply entrenched pagan culture.
Acts 19 11 Word analysis
And (Gr. de, δέ): A conjunction often signaling continuation or a new, but related, development. Here, it signifies the continuation and intensification of Paul's ministry in Ephesus after his teaching in the synagogue and lecture hall (vv. 8-10).
God (Gr. ho Theos, ὁ Θεός): Refers to the one true God, distinct from the many gods of Greek and Roman paganism prevalent in Ephesus. The active subject, emphasizing that the miracles originated from divine power, not human ability.
was performing (Gr. epoiei, ἐποίηι): Imperfect tense of poieō (ποιέω), meaning "to do," "to make," or "to perform." The imperfect tense denotes continuous, ongoing, or repeated action. It indicates that God was not just doing isolated miracles, but habitually and consistently working extraordinary wonders.
extraordinary miracles (Gr. dynameis ou tas tychousas, δυνάμεις οὐ τὰς τυχούσας):
- miracles (Gr. dynameis, δυνάμεις): Plural of dynamis, meaning "power," "might," "ability," or "miraculous power." It specifically refers to acts of supernatural power.
- extraordinary (Gr. ou tas tychousas, οὐ τὰς τυχούσας): A powerful Greek idiom using a double negative ("not" + "the ordinary/common/chance ones"). This emphatically conveys "uncommon," "remarkable," "unusual," or "special." It highlights that these miracles transcended the everyday or expected, setting them apart as uniquely profound divine interventions. This also implicitly contrasted with the common magical arts of Ephesus.
by the hands (Gr. dia tōn cheirōn, διὰ τῶν χειρῶν): Literally "through the hands." The preposition dia (διὰ) signifies the instrument or agent. It clearly indicates that Paul was merely the vessel, the human instrument through whom God was operating. The power flowed through him, but it originated from God.
of Paul (Gr. Paulou, Παύλου): Specifies the human conduit chosen by God for these remarkable works.
"And God was performing extraordinary miracles": This phrase emphasizes God's direct and continuous agency as the source of all supernatural power. The "extraordinary" nature suggests these miracles went beyond common healings or exorcisms, perhaps in their scale, manner, or visible effects, given the potent magical context of Ephesus. This directly challenged the pervasive paganism.
Acts 19 11 Bonus section
The specific type of "extraordinary" miracles that followed this statement in Acts 19:12-16 involved the healing of the sick and the casting out of evil spirits through articles that had touched Paul's body, like handkerchiefs and aprons. This was reminiscent of Peter's shadow healing in Acts 5:15 and even parallels the anointing with oil and touching Jesus' garments in the Gospels (Mk 5:25-34). This unusual extension of healing power beyond Paul's direct touch underscored the unparalleled nature of God's work in Ephesus. Such powerful demonstrations were critical for confronting the local occult practices, directly exposing the weakness and trickery of "Ephesian letters" and pagan charms, leading many practitioners to abandon their magic. The phrase also suggests these were not just numerically more miracles, but qualitatively different or more intense, highlighting God's exceptional power in a context saturated with claims of supernatural ability.
Acts 19 11 Commentary
Acts 19:11 is a profound statement regarding God's active involvement in establishing His Kingdom. It clarifies that the source of power behind Paul's impactful ministry was unequivocally divine. The use of the imperfect tense "was performing" (Gk. epoiei) underscores the sustained and consistent nature of these powerful works. The phrase "extraordinary miracles" (Gk. dynameis ou tas tychousas) signifies a level of divine intervention that was beyond common expectation or ordinary demonstration. This strong idiom distinguishes these signs from the typical magical practices or demonic influences prevalent in Ephesus, serving as a powerful polemic against the city's deeply ingrained paganism and sorcery. By making Paul the conduit, "by the hands of Paul," God demonstrated that His power flowed through His chosen vessel, affirming Paul's apostolic authority and the divine origin of the Gospel he proclaimed. This verse sets the stage for God's overwhelming victory over the spiritual darkness in Ephesus, validating the truth of Christ over the deceptive powers of magic and idolatry.
- Example 1: The distinction here shows that miracles are God's works, not human feats, encouraging humility in those God uses.
- Example 2: In spiritual warfare, recognizing God as the ultimate source of power provides confidence that His victory is assured over all dark forces.