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 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 19:16 | And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. | Demonic influence leading to violence |
| Mark 5:3-4 | ...whom no one could bind, not even with fetters, for he had often been bound with manacles and chains, and the chains had been broken from his limbs, and the manacles crushed, and no one had the strength to tame him. | Demoniacs displaying extreme strength |
| Luke 9:42 | but when he came near, the demon threw him down and convulsed him, and cried out. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. | Demonic violent reaction to Jesus' presence |
| Mark 1:26 | And when the unclean spirit convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he fell to the ground. | Spiritual forces' reactions |
| Acts 13:11 | And now, behold, you will be blind and not even see the sun for a time.” Immediately a mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about, seeking people to lead him by the hand. | Supernatural judgment impacting senses |
| Ephesians 6:12 | For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. | Nature of spiritual warfare |
| 2 Corinthians 10:4 | For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds. | Spiritual weapons |
| Romans 1:18 | For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their ungodliness suppress the truth. | Divine wrath against sin |
| Galatians 5:22-23 | But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. | Contrast to demonic activity |
| 1 John 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. | Power of God within believers |
| Hebrews 1:14 | Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? | Ministering spirits |
| Revelation 12:7-9 | Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels striking at the dragon. And the dragon and his angels struck back, but it did not prevail, nor was there again a place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceuser of all the world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. | Cosmic spiritual conflict |
| 2 Timothy 4:3 | For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions... | Spiritual deception |
| 1 Peter 5:8 | Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. | Enemy's tactics |
| Jeremiah 17:9 | The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? | Human sinfulness |
| John 10:10 | The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it in abundance. | Christ's purpose vs. the enemy's |
| Mark 9:25 | And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!” | Jesus casting out demons |
| Acts 8:7 | For many who had them cried out with a loud voice, and many who had paralytics or were lame were healed. | Exorcisms and healing |
| Acts 16:18 | And this she did for many days. Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out the same hour. | Paul exercising authority |
| Matthew 12:29 | or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. | Binding the strongman |
| Acts 5:16 | The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. | Widespread healing and deliverance |
Acts 19 verses
Acts 19 16 Meaning
This verse describes an instance where the human spirit within individuals became violent and destructive towards demonic entities. It highlights the supernatural power present in Paul and the followers of Christ, which reacted aggressively to the spiritual realm. The context suggests an outbreak of divine authority causing supernatural chaos in those possessed by evil spirits when exposed to the power of God channeled through human agency.
Acts 19 16 Context
This verse is part of the narrative of Paul's ministry in Ephesus, a major city in Asia Minor known for its idolatry and occult practices. In the preceding verses, Paul had been performing extraordinary miracles, and seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, attempted to imitate his ministry by using the name of Jesus to cast out demons from an individual. However, the evil spirit recognized Paul and the authority of Jesus, but it did not recognize the sons of Sceva. This verse records the violent reaction of the possessed man when confronted by those who lacked true spiritual authority. The incident demonstrates the power inherent in the name of Jesus and the active opposition from the demonic realm when faced with genuine faith and divine power. The broader context is Paul's mission to establish and strengthen the church in Ephesus, challenging pagan beliefs and practices through the proclamation of the Gospel and miraculous signs.
Acts 19 16 Word Analysis
- And (kai - καί): A conjunction connecting this verse to the preceding events, indicating a consequence or continuation.
- the man (ton anthrōpon - τόν ἄνθρωπον): Refers to the individual possessed by the evil spirit. The definite article "the" signifies a specific man previously mentioned or understood in context.
- in whom (en hō - ἐν ᾧ): Locates the indwelling of the spirit within the man.
- was (ēn - ἦν): An imperfect tense verb, indicating a continuous state of possession.
- the evil spirit (to pneuma to kakon - τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ κακόν): "Pneuma" refers to spirit or breath. "Kakon" means evil, wicked, bad, or malicious. This explicitly identifies the malevolent supernatural entity inhabiting the man.
- leaped on them (epidiasamenos - ἐπιδιασάμενος): A participle that conveys the action of "rushing upon" or "attacking suddenly and violently." It signifies an aggressive physical and spiritual onslaught.
- and overcame them (kratēsasan autōn - κρατήσασαν αὐτῶν): "Kratēsan" implies gaining mastery or power over. The verb's grammatical form links it to the spirit's action, showing dominance.
- and prevailed against them (kai huperischysan autōn - καὶ ὑπερισχῦσαν αὐτῶν): "Hyperischysan" means to be stronger than or to overpower completely. This emphasizes the overwhelming nature of the spirit's force against the sons of Sceva.
- so that (hōste - ὥστε): Indicates the result or consequence of the preceding actions.
- they fled (ephygon - ἔφυγον): The aorist tense verb signifies a completed action of escape.
- out of that house (ek tēs oikias ekeinēs - ἐκ τῆς οἰκίας ἐκείνης): Specifies the location from which they fled. "Oikias" can refer to a house, dwelling, or household.
- naked (gymnoi - γυμνοί): Stripped of their clothes. This highlights their shame, helplessness, and utter defeat, a stark contrast to their previous boastfulness.
- and wounded (kai trōmatiai - καὶ τραυματίαι): Afflicted with wounds. This indicates the physical harm inflicted upon them during the confrontation.
Word Group Analysis
- "the man in whom was the evil spirit": This phrase establishes the immediate source of the supernatural violence. It is not the man acting independently, but the evil spirit within him being stirred to aggressive action by the wrong invocation of spiritual power.
- "leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them": This triple depiction of aggressive action (leaped, overcame, prevailed) intensifies the description of the spirit's forceful and victorious assault. It conveys a sense of unchecked rage and supernatural dominance.
- "fled out of that house naked and wounded": The outcome for the sons of Sceva. "Naked and wounded" powerfully symbolizes their total humiliation, the stripping away of their false authority, and the tangible cost of their impious venture into spiritual warfare without proper authorization or faith.
Acts 19 16 Bonus Section
The practice of attempting to "harness" or "command" spiritual powers, especially in the name of sacred figures, was not uncommon in the ancient world. Various cultures had rituals, incantations, and objects believed to grant control over spiritual entities for personal gain or protection. The seven sons of Sceva's actions align with a magical, rather than a faith-based, approach to the divine. Their error was one of epistemology – they thought they could operate within the spiritual realm by using the correct "formula" (the name of Jesus) without understanding the true nature of spiritual power, faith, and the relationship with the Divine. This encounter serves as a historical demonstration of the Bible's teaching that true spiritual authority stems from a genuine relationship with God and is exercised through faith, not mere recitation or manipulation. It reinforces the biblical distinction between the supernatural manifestations that accompany true faith and those that might be employed through sorcery or deceit.
Acts 19 16 Commentary
This incident serves as a potent illustration of the spiritual realities described in scripture. The sons of Sceva's attempt to leverage the name of Jesus without personal faith or divine authority proved disastrous. The evil spirit, being a distinct entity with supernatural power, reacted with brutal force against their attempted command, revealing its recognition of true authority versus imitation. The consequence for the sons of Sceva was not just physical injury and public shame (fleeing naked), but also a stark lesson in the dangers of presumptuous spiritual manipulation. This event underscores the importance of invoking God's name and power with reverence, faith, and within His ordained purposes. It also highlights the power of genuine spiritual authority, represented by Paul and the true followers of Christ, and the ferocity of the demonic realm when confronted by it.