Acts 19 17

Acts 19:17 kjv

And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

Acts 19:17 nkjv

This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

Acts 19:17 niv

When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.

Acts 19:17 esv

And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled.

Acts 19:17 nlt

The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored.

Acts 19 verses

Acts 19 17 Meaning

Acts 19:17 reveals the significant aftermath of a dramatic supernatural event in Ephesus where seven Jewish exorcists, attempting to leverage the name of Jesus without genuine faith, were overcome by a demon. This incident became widely known throughout the diverse population of Ephesus, including both Jews and Greeks. The result was a profound sense of reverential fear and awe among the people, leading to the public exaltation and honoring of the name and authority of the Lord Jesus.

Acts 19 17 Context

This verse is situated during Paul's impactful three-year ministry in Ephesus, a significant metropolitan center known for its devotion to Artemis and a prominent hub for magic, sorcery, and pagan worship. Paul's ministry was characterized by extraordinary miracles, leading to the rapid growth of Christianity. The immediate preceding event (Acts 19:11-16) describes how seven Jewish exorcists, sons of Sceva, tried to invoke the "Jesus whom Paul proclaims" to cast out a demon. However, the demon recognized Jesus and Paul but overpowered the exorcists, leaving them naked and wounded. This dramatic public failure sets the stage for the widespread impact described in verse 17, underscoring the stark contrast between authentic divine power and mere spiritual imitation or manipulation.

Acts 19 17 Word analysis

• "And this became known" (τοῦτο δὲ ἐγένετο γνωστὸν - touto de egeneto gnōston): Signifies the immediate and wide dissemination of the incident. The Greek word gnōston emphasizes that it became common, public knowledge. This was not a private matter but an event of civic notoriety, underscoring its significant social impact.
• "to all" (πᾶσιν - pasin): Stresses the comprehensive reach of the news, not limited to a specific group or demographic. It highlights the universality of the event's revelation across Ephesian society.
• "both Jews and Greeks" (Ἰουδαίοις τε καὶ Ἕλλησιν - Ioudaiois te kai Hellēsin): Specifies the two major cultural and religious groups residing in Ephesus, encompassing virtually the entire population. This detail emphasizes that the impact transcended traditional divides and reached every segment of society.
• "who lived in Ephesus" (τοῖς κατοικοῦσιν ἐν Ἐφέσῳ - tois katoikousin en Ephesō): Further delineates the geographical scope of the impact, grounding the event firmly in its specific cultural context and emphasizing its local, widespread resonance within the city.
• "And fear fell upon them all" (φόβος τε ἐπέπεσεν ἐπὶ πάντας αὐτούς - phobos te epepesen epi pantas autous): The verb epepesen ("fell upon") suggests a sudden, overwhelming, and pervasive experience. The term phobos here is not mere terror but often denotes a deep, reverential awe, respect, and submission towards divine power and authority, a common response in Luke-Acts when encountering God's work.
• "and the name" (καὶ ἐμεγαλύνετο τὸ ὄνομα - kai emegaluneto to onoma): The focus on "the name" signifies the person, authority, and power associated with that name. In biblical thought, a name represents the essence and character of an individual.
• "of the Lord Jesus" (τοῦ Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ - tou Kyriou Iēsou): Kyriou ("Lord") implies divine sovereignty, authority, and mastership. This title highlights Jesus' ultimate power and dominion, differentiating Him from mere human practitioners or rival spiritual entities.
• "was magnified" (ἐμεγαλύνετο - emegaluneto): This verb is in the imperfect tense, suggesting an ongoing or continuous process of exaltation and recognition rather than a one-time event. It indicates that Jesus' renown and authority continued to grow and be celebrated among the people of Ephesus. This "magnification" is an active acknowledgment and elevation of His supreme power and identity.

Acts 19 17 Bonus section

• The incident highlights the dangers of using spiritual matters for personal gain or out of a manipulative mindset, seeing God's name as a tool rather than honoring Him as Lord.
• The confrontation between genuine Christ-centered authority and counterfeits underscores a recurring theme in the book of Acts: the advance of the gospel is often accompanied by encounters with opposing spiritual forces, which ultimately demonstrate Christ's victory.
• Luke's repeated use of the phrase "fear fell upon them" (or similar) consistently links divine revelation or judgment with widespread public awe and reverence, often preceding spiritual transformation and growth in the early church.
• The event in Ephesus not only contrasted the power of Jesus with pagan magic but also subtly challenged established Jewish exorcism traditions that may have become formalistic or superstitious, reminding all of the necessity of a true relationship with God.
• The fact that it "became known to all" speaks to the divine orchestration of events for the wider proclamation and glorification of Jesus Christ, impacting not just the directly involved parties but the entire social fabric of the city.

Acts 19 17 Commentary

Acts 19:17 serves as a crucial pivot in Paul's Ephesian ministry, demonstrating a clear divine affirmation of true Christian authority against the backdrop of prevalent paganism and false spiritual practices. The dramatic exposure of the "sons of Sceva" highlighted that divine power does not respond to mere incantations or casual invocation of a name without genuine relationship, faith, and commission from Jesus. The immediate, widespread public knowledge of this event among both Jewish and Greek populations of Ephesus led to a profound spiritual impact. The "fear" that "fell upon them all" was less about terror and more about a holy reverence and awe for the unchallengeable authority of God displayed through Jesus. This resulted in the continual "magnification" – an increasing honor and exaltation – of the Lord Jesus' name. This magnification implies not just intellectual assent but a profound shift in spiritual perception and respect, directly paving the way for repentance and a turning from magical practices seen in subsequent verses (Acts 19:18-20), thereby authenticating the gospel's supremacy in a power-saturated culture.