Acts 19:14 kjv
And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
Acts 19:14 nkjv
Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.
Acts 19:14 niv
Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.
Acts 19:14 esv
Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this.
Acts 19:14 nlt
Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this.
Acts 19 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Dt 18:20 | "But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak..." | Warning against false presumption of divine authority. |
| Mt 7:22-23 | "Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons...’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you...’" | Divine judgment on those who do works in His name without true relationship. |
| Lk 9:49-50 | "John answered and said, ‘Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Do not forbid him...’" | Different case; genuine power of name applied, though user wasn't disciple, and acted without malicious intent. |
| Mk 9:38-39 | Parallel account to Lk 9:49-50. | Genuine results can occur, but here Sceva's sons lacked sincerity and proper authority. |
| Acts 3:6 | "Then Peter said, 'Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.'" | Power and authority in the name of Jesus for healing. |
| Acts 4:7 | "By what power or by what name have you done this?" | Jewish leaders questioning the source of apostolic power. |
| Acts 4:12 | "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." | The exclusivity and supremacy of Jesus' name for salvation. |
| Acts 8:18-19 | "Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, 'Give me this power also...'" | Attempt to buy or commercially exploit spiritual power (simony). |
| Jas 2:19 | "You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!" | Mere intellectual assent or knowledge of God/Christ is insufficient. |
| 1 Cor 4:20 | "For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power." | The true manifestation of God's kingdom is through divine power, not empty rhetoric. |
| 2 Tim 3:8 | "As Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith..." | Parallel to ancient pagan magicians/false spiritual practitioners resisting divine power. |
| Jude 1:16 | "These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage." | Describes those who use religious pretense for selfish motives. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow..." | The ultimate authority and supremacy of Jesus' name. |
| Col 3:17 | "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." | Believers' actions should be performed under Jesus' authority. |
| Isa 8:19 | "When they say to you, 'Consult the mediums and the spiritists who whisper and mutter,' should not a people consult their God?" | Warning against turning to occultic practices rather than God. |
| Eph 6:12 | "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." | Recognition of the true nature of spiritual warfare. |
| Rom 10:9-10 | "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." | Emphasizes faith of the heart, not mere outward profession. |
| Jer 23:21 | "I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied." | A prophetic warning against unauthorized self-proclaimed messengers. |
| Jn 14:12-14 | "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also... whatever you ask in My name, that I will do..." | The power of asking in Jesus' name requires true belief and connection. |
| Acts 16:16-18 | Paul casting out a demon from a diviner who used "a spirit of divination." | Example of true spiritual authority against a false spirit. |
| Mt 12:27-28 | "If I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God..." | Jesus acknowledges other Jewish exorcists, but differentiates His authority. |
| Heb 4:12 | "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword..." | The true power resides in God's living Word, not formulaic incantations. |
| 2 Jn 1:7-11 | Warnings against false teachers and those who do not abide in the doctrine of Christ. | Avoiding those who spread falsehood and misrepresent Christian truth. |
Acts 19 verses
Acts 19 14 Meaning
Acts 19:14 details an incident involving seven sons of a Jewish chief priest named Sceva who attempted to perform exorcisms by invoking the name of Jesus, specifically, "Jesus whom Paul preaches." This verse sets the stage for their failed attempt and subsequent public humiliation, highlighting the crucial difference between genuine spiritual authority, rooted in true faith and the Holy Spirit, and mere mimicry or the use of sacred names as a magical formula without proper relationship with Christ. Their actions demonstrate a superficial understanding and appropriation of Christian power, attempting to co-opt it for personal gain or prestige within a culture rife with magical practices.
Acts 19 14 Context
Acts chapter 19 describes Paul's significant ministry in Ephesus, a city renowned for its practice of magic, idolatry (particularly the worship of Artemis/Diana), and spiritualistic practices. Paul's preaching of the Kingdom of God and his demonstration of God's power through extraordinary miracles, including the casting out of demons and healings through handkerchiefs or aprons touched to him (Acts 19:11-12), were widely known and impacted the city profoundly. This success attracted the attention of local "exorcists" (Acts 19:13), who were professional practitioners dealing with spirits, using incantations and various methods. In this spiritual environment, the sons of Sceva observed Paul's effectiveness and sought to mimic his methods for their own gain or reputation. Their actions in verse 14 are a direct attempt to replicate the visible power of the apostolic ministry without possessing the authentic spiritual relationship, faith, or authority that underpinned it, leading to a stark and public demonstration of their spiritual impotence.
Acts 19 14 Word analysis
- And there were seven sons: The number "seven" (ἑπτὰ - hepta) here might imply completeness or a full, significant group. It underscores that this was not an isolated incident by one person, but a collective effort, possibly indicating an organized practice or a family enterprise of exorcism. This particularity emphasizes the broadness of the challenge they posed and the extent of their failure.
- of Sceva: Sceva (Σκευᾶς - Skeuas) is identified by name. He is presented as the patriarch of this family of exorcists. His identity points to their background and the perceived standing they held within the Jewish community.
- a Jewish: (Ἰουδαίου - Ioudaiou) Specifies their religious and ethnic background. This is crucial as it highlights the attempted syncretism: combining Jewish background and traditional exorcism with the invocation of Jesus' name. It emphasizes that this incident involved Jewish individuals operating outside true Messianic faith.
- chief priest: (ἀρχιερεύς - archiereus). This term typically refers to the high priest or a member of the high priestly families in Jerusalem. However, in this context in Ephesus, Sceva was not the acting high priest in Jerusalem. Rather, "chief priest" here likely signifies a prominent figure of a priestly lineage or a leading priest within the Ephesian Jewish community, perhaps having some leadership role in their synagogue. This status made their misadventure particularly noteworthy and publicly embarrassing, indicating that even high religious standing did not confer automatic spiritual power in Jesus' name without genuine faith.
- who did this: This phrase connects directly back to the activity described in Acts 19:13, where they "undertook to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits." The imperfect tense "were doing" (ἐποίουν - epoieian) suggests a habitual or repeated action, indicating these attempts were ongoing, not just a one-off. It reveals a sustained effort to co-opt Jesus' name as a magical incantation.
- words-group: "seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest": This entire phrase delineates the specific characters involved. It establishes their collective identity, their leader/father, and their religious heritage. The combination of "Jewish" and "chief priest" suggests a position of respect and authority within their local community, making their subsequent humiliation even more impactful and serving as a potent object lesson that genuine spiritual authority transcends hereditary status or religious titles. They were operating by family lineage and presumed authority, rather than divine empowerment.
Acts 19 14 Bonus section
The prevalence of magic and sorcery in Ephesus (mentioned in Acts 19:19) forms a critical backdrop to this event. Ephesus was a major center for such practices, and there was a flourishing trade in magic scrolls and incantations. In this environment, "exorcists" were professional figures. The sons of Sceva were likely accustomed to using elaborate rituals, special names, and possibly certain artifacts or amulets in their practice. When they observed the demonstrable power operating through Paul in the name of Jesus, they merely added Jesus' name to their existing repertoire, failing to understand that His name carries authority because of who He is – the resurrected Lord – and not as a generic mystical word. This misunderstanding underscores the New Testament's strong condemnation of attempting to commodify or superficially apply spiritual power without the heart of genuine faith and submission to Christ. This event demonstrates the spiritual realm's discernment between those truly sent by God and those who merely ape their methods.
Acts 19 14 Commentary
Acts 19:14 introduces the protagonists of a crucial event that serves as a powerful biblical cautionary tale. The seven sons of Sceva, a prominent Jewish "chief priest" in Ephesus, represent the spiritual counterfeit, attempting to leverage the perceived power of Jesus' name as a mere incantation or magical formula. They saw Paul's success and sought to imitate his methods, but crucially, without personal faith in Jesus, genuine relationship with Him, or the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. Their background as "chief priests" gave them a degree of religious authority and public standing, yet this conferred no true spiritual authority in dealing with evil spirits through Christ. This verse underscores that power in Christ's name flows from relationship and genuine commission, not from religious status, inherited title, or mechanical repetition of sacred words. It stands as a polemic against syncretism and the manipulation of sacred names for personal gain, revealing the boundaries of true Christian authority compared to opportunistic or superstitious practices prevalent in the Greco-Roman world. The narrative that follows clearly illustrates that the demonic realm recognizes and responds only to legitimate divine authority, distinguishing sharply between genuine believers and mere imitators.