Acts 19 16

Acts 19:16 kjv

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 19:16 nkjv

Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Acts 19:16 niv

Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

Acts 19:16 esv

And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Acts 19:16 nlt

Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered.

Acts 19 verses

Acts 19 16 Meaning

Acts 19:16 describes the immediate and violent outcome of the confrontation between a demon-possessed man and the seven sons of Sceva, who attempted to exorcise the demon using the name of Jesus without genuine faith or authority. The man, empowered by the evil spirit, ferociously attacked and utterly overwhelmed them. The result was their humiliating public defeat: they fled the house, stripped of their clothing (naked), and physically injured (wounded). This event served as a stark demonstration of the potent reality of spiritual forces and the essential nature of authentic spiritual authority rooted in the name of Jesus.

Acts 19 16 Context

Acts chapter 19 describes Paul's significant ministry in Ephesus, a city renowned for its goddess Artemis, its elaborate pagan temples, and a thriving practice of magic and idolatry. Paul’s powerful preaching and miracles (even secondary contact items like handkerchiefs bringing healing) caused a stir, demonstrating the true power of God. Amidst this, certain itinerant Jewish exorcists sought to capitalize on the effectiveness of Jesus' name they observed in Paul. The specific instance preceding verse 16 (Acts 19:13-15) shows the sons of Sceva attempting to exorcise a demon, commanding it "by Jesus whom Paul preaches." However, the evil spirit responded by recognizing Jesus and Paul, but not them, directly questioning their identity. Acts 19:16 is the brutal, physical consequence of their unauthorized and imitative use of the divine name, underscoring the spiritual dangers of wielding sacred things without genuine relationship or commission. The historical context highlights a period of intense spiritual conflict where authentic divine power was visibly distinguished from occult practices and mere religious performance.

Acts 19 16 Word analysis

• And the man: The particle "and" (kai) links directly to the preceding dialogue (Acts 19:15), indicating a direct, immediate response. "Man" (anthrōpos – ἄνθρωπος) is used to identify the individual, emphasizing that it was the possessed human agent.
• in whom the evil spirit was: This phrase (en hō to pneuma to ponēron ēn – ἐν ᾧ τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ πονηρὸν ἦν) reiterates the state of intense demonic possession. The evil spirit was not merely influencing but dwelling in him, giving him control and power far beyond normal human strength. "Evil spirit" (pneuma ponēron – πνεῦμα πονηρόν) denotes an actively malicious and wicked entity.
• leaped on them: The Greek word ephallomai (ἐφάλλωμαι) means to spring upon or attack, indicating a sudden, violent, and aggressive pounce. This was not a passive resistance but an active, physical assault.
• and overcame them: The verb katekypieusen (κατεκυρίευσεν) implies taking complete dominion, mastering, or overpowering. It signifies an overwhelming victory for the possessed man, showing the exorcists were utterly unable to resist or counter him.
• and prevailed against them: Ischysen kat' autōn (ἴσχυσεν κατ’ αὐτῶν) means "to be strong against them" or "to gain strength over them." This phrase reiterates and intensifies the prior one, using a figure of speech (pleonasm) to emphasize the absolute and total dominance exerted by the demon-possessed man over the seven men. It leaves no doubt about the lopsided nature of the fight.
• so that they fled: The conjunction "so that" (hōste – ὥστε) indicates the direct consequence of the attack. Their flight (ephygon – ἔφυγον) reveals their utter fear and inability to stand their ground.
• out of that house: They were forced to evacuate the very place where they intended to demonstrate their authority.
• naked: The word gymnoi (γυμνοί) signifies stripped of clothing. In the ancient world, public nakedness was not merely a state of undress but a profound symbol of shame, humiliation, defeat, vulnerability, and utter degradation. It implied they were stripped of honor and reputation.
• and wounded: The term tetraumatisemoi (τετραυματισμένοι) means to be severely injured or battered. This shows the physical brutality of the encounter; they sustained real bodily harm in addition to their profound humiliation.

Words-group analysis

• "And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them": This immediate, violent reaction from the possessed individual, empowered by the indwelling demon, highlights the tangible and dangerous reality of spiritual evil. It directly follows the demon's assertion that it recognized Jesus and Paul, but not these exorcists, setting the stage for the physical manifestation of this lack of authority.
• "and overcame them, and prevailed against them": The repetitive phrasing powerfully emphasizes the absolute defeat of the sons of Sceva. This isn't just a minor skirmish but a total subjugation, underlining their utter lack of spiritual authority and physical inability to control the demonic power they had invoked without true warrant. It demonstrates the peril of challenging spiritual entities without genuine divine empowerment.
• "so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded": This phrase details the humiliating and painful outcome of their failed attempt. "Fled" signifies terror and surrender. "Naked" visually underscores their shame and loss of dignity, while "wounded" attests to the physical violence they endured. It serves as a public exposure of their spiritual bankruptcy and a clear warning against such presumption, having immediate social and physical consequences.

Acts 19 16 Bonus section

• The term "chief priest" associated with Sceva (Acts 19:14) may not denote an official, recognized High Priest from Jerusalem, but rather a leader of a Jewish priestly family in Ephesus, or perhaps even a self-proclaimed or cultic "chief priest" in a non-traditional sense, leveraging local superstitions and a diluted form of Judaism.
• This incident was critical in Ephesus for discrediting magic and exalting the name of Jesus. The very public and undeniable failure of these Jewish exorcists underscored the unique and exclusive power residing in the name of Jesus when invoked with genuine faith, unlike the unreliable incantations and magic prevalent in Ephesian culture.
• The widespread impact of this event contributed directly to the significant turning away from occult practices, as evidenced by the Ephesian believers publicly burning their expensive magic scrolls (Acts 19:19-20). This drastic act demonstrates the conviction created by witnessing the divine power versus counterfeit.
• The supernatural strength exhibited by the possessed man aligns with other biblical accounts of demonic influence imparting unusual physical power (e.g., the Gadarene demoniac in Mk 5:3-4).

Acts 19 16 Commentary

Acts 19:16 climaxes the vivid narrative of the sons of Sceva, serving as a pivotal moment that distinguishes genuine spiritual power from mere imitative religiosity. Their public, physical defeat by a single demon-possessed man unequivocally revealed the severe spiritual consequences of presuming to use God's name without faith, relationship, or true divine commission. The repeated description of being "overcome" and "prevailed against" underscores the totality of their subjugation. Furthermore, their flight, stripped and injured, graphically illustrated both profound humiliation and actual physical harm. This incident was not merely an anecdote; it acted as a divine object lesson in Ephesus, a city steeped in occult practices. It showed that demons, far from being manipulable by human formulas, recognize true authority (Jesus and Paul) and ruthlessly expose the spiritual impotence of imposters. The resultant shame and injury were a harsh, visible judgment on their arrogance, demonstrating the solemn reality and danger of spiritual warfare to those who lack God-given authority. The event ultimately glorified the name of the Lord Jesus in a profound way (Acts 19:17), leading many to repentance and genuine faith.