Acts 19:15 kjv
And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
Acts 19:15 nkjv
And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?"
Acts 19:15 niv
One day the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?"
Acts 19:15 esv
But the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?"
Acts 19:15 nlt
But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, "I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?"
Acts 19 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mk 1:24 | "...What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God." | Demon recognizes Jesus's holy identity. |
| Lk 4:34 | "...What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God." | Demon acknowledges Jesus's divine authority. |
| Jas 2:19 | "You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!" | Demons' knowledge of God results in fear. |
| Acts 16:17 | "This girl followed Paul and us, crying out, 'These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.'" | Demonic spirit identifies Paul's true calling. |
| Mk 3:11 | "And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, 'You are the Son of God.'" | Demons identify Jesus's divine sonship. |
| Matt 10:1 | "And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out..." | Jesus grants His disciples spiritual authority. |
| Mk 16:17 | "And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons..." | Believers' authority in Christ's name. |
| Col 2:15 | "He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him." | Christ's victory over spiritual powers. |
| Eph 6:12 | "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities..." | The reality of spiritual warfare. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | "...God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow..." | The supremacy of Jesus' name. |
| Acts 3:6 | "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!'" | Power manifested through Jesus' name. |
| Num 16:1-3 | Korah and his company rebel against divinely appointed authority. | Unauthorized leadership challenged. |
| Dt 18:20 | "But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak..." | Warning against presumptuous speech. |
| Jer 23:31-32 | "Behold, I am against the prophets, declares the LORD, who use their tongues and declare, 'Declares the LORD!'" | False prophets' claims exposed. |
| Matt 7:22-23 | "On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name...?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you...'" | Relationship over performance; lack of true knowledge. |
| 2 Tim 3:8 | "Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth..." | Resembling false magic against God's power. |
| Ex 7:11-12 | Pharaoh's magicians' limited power compared to God's. | Inferiority of magic to divine power. |
| Rev 13:13-14 | "...He performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven...and by the signs that he is enabled to perform..." | False wonders and deception. |
| Jn 10:14 | "I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me..." | Jesus's intimate knowledge of His own. |
| 2 Tim 2:19 | "...The Lord knows those who are His..." | God's certain knowledge of true believers. |
| Hos 4:6 | "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..." | Consequence of lacking true knowledge of God. |
Acts 19 verses
Acts 19 15 Meaning
Acts 19:15 presents a direct confrontation where a malevolent spiritual entity, inhabiting a man, articulates its recognition of both Jesus and the apostle Paul, but strikingly questions the spiritual authority and identity of Jewish exorcists who were attempting to cast it out. This interaction vividly underscores the discerning nature of the spiritual realm concerning divine authority and true spiritual power.
Acts 19 15 Context
Acts chapter 19 describes Paul's significant ministry in Ephesus, a prominent city renowned for its goddess Artemis, magic, and various occult practices. Paul's preaching and powerful miracles, including the healing of the sick through his garments and successful exorcisms, caused a stir. Following these remarkable displays of divine power, certain itinerant Jewish exorcists, witnessing Paul's success, attempted to emulate his actions by invoking "the Jesus whom Paul proclaims." Acts 19:15 is the chilling response from one such evil spirit, directly addressed to these unauthorized exorcists. This moment immediately precedes the demon's violent overcoming of these individuals, leading to public awe and fear regarding the name of Jesus.
Acts 19 15 Word analysis
- And (καὶ, kai): A simple connective conjunction, but vital in narrative progression, introducing the critical response from the demonic realm.
- the evil spirit (τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ πονηρόν, to pneuma to ponēron):
- Pneuma: Spirit, implying an intelligent, non-physical being.
- Ponēron: Wicked, malicious, harmful. This highlights the inherent malevolence and destructive nature of this entity, distinguishing it from benevolent or neutral spirits.
- answered (ἀποκριθὲν, apokrithen): A past participle, meaning "having answered" or "in response." It denotes a deliberate, conscious verbal reply, indicating the spirit's cognitive awareness and ability to communicate.
- and said (εἶπεν, eipen): Reinforces the verbal articulation of the evil spirit, setting up its profound statement.
- Jesus (Ἰησοῦν, Iēsoun) I know (γινώσκω, ginōskō):
- Iēsoun: The Son of God, the Messiah. Even evil spirits acknowledge His supremacy.
- Ginōskō: "I know" – implies not mere intellectual acquaintance but a profound, experiential recognition. This is not knowledge born of relationship or worship, but of direct experience with His overwhelming power and authority. Demonic entities have personally encountered Jesus' power to command and bind them.
- and Paul (καὶ Παῦλον, kai Paulon) I know (γινώσκω, ginōskō):
- Paulon: The Apostle Paul. The evil spirit also experientially recognizes Paul. This recognition validates Paul's authentic divine commission and the true authority given to him by Jesus for ministry, contrasting sharply with the impostors. Paul's spiritual power was evidently acknowledged even by the demonic realm.
- but who are you? (ὑμεῖς δὲ τίνες ἐστέ, hymeis de tines este):
- Hymeis: An emphatic "you" (plural). The pronoun explicitly targets the exorcists, underscoring their collective lack of identity and authority.
- De: A strong adversative conjunction, "but," highlighting the sharp contrast between Jesus and Paul (whom it knows) and the current challengers (whom it doesn't recognize with spiritual authority).
- Tines: "Who?" or "What kind of people?" This interrogative pronoun is a scornful challenge. It implies a total lack of spiritual standing, relationship with Christ, or divine commissioning for these individuals. It's not a genuine question seeking information, but a rhetorical denunciation of their spiritual fraudulence and presumptuousness. This challenge also serves as a polemic against the magical belief that invoking a name as a formula is sufficient, highlighting that true authority flows from a living relationship.
Acts 19 15 Bonus section
The incident involving the sons of Sceva, dramatically concluded by Acts 19:15, played a pivotal role in the early Church's history in Ephesus. It served as a clear public demonstration of the profound distinction between true Christian spiritual authority and syncretistic magical practices prevalent in the city. The exposure of the exorcists' impotence underscored the unique, potent, and non-imitable power inherent in the name of Jesus when wielded by those genuinely indwelt and authorized by Him. This event directly contributed to the widespread awe and "fear of the Lord" among the Ephesian population, resulting in many magicians openly confessing their deeds and burning their expensive magic books. This was a direct triumph of the Gospel over occultism, authenticating Paul's ministry and solidifying the community's understanding that the power of God is not to be trifled with or used for personal gain outside of true faith. It further emphasizes that demons not only recognize but also tremble at the true power of Christ and those in authentic covenant with Him, while scornfully dismissing those who merely borrow His name without true spiritual connection.
Acts 19 15 Commentary
Acts 19:15 serves as a chilling revelation of spiritual reality: demonic forces possess acute spiritual discernment, immediately recognizing authentic divine authority, whether it resides in Jesus Christ Himself or is genuinely vested in His true apostles like Paul. Their "knowledge" of Jesus is not a saving faith but a profound and fearful acknowledgment of His ultimate power and supreme reign over them. Similarly, their recognition of Paul validates his apostolic calling and the Holy Spirit's power operating through him. The subsequent question, "but who are you?", profoundly exposes the spiritual emptiness of the sons of Sceva. Despite their religious titles or attempts to imitate Christian practices, they lacked genuine faith, an authentic relationship with Christ, or divine commission. This highlights that true spiritual authority is not a formula or a technique to be mimicked, nor is it inherent in religious lineage or profession; it flows directly from an intimate, living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit's empowering presence. Engaging in spiritual warfare without this genuine connection is not only ineffective but also perilously dangerous, as demonstrated by the subsequent attack on the exorcists. This narrative acts as a crucial warning against superficial religiosity, demonstrating that the spiritual realm distinguishes between the truly commissioned and the mere imitators.