Acts 19 18

Acts 19:18 kjv

And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.

Acts 19:18 nkjv

And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds.

Acts 19:18 niv

Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done.

Acts 19:18 esv

Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices.

Acts 19:18 nlt

Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices.

Acts 19 verses

Acts 19 18 Meaning

Acts 19:18 describes a profound spiritual awakening among believers in Ephesus, where many, having already accepted the Gospel, openly admitted and confessed their past, often sinful, practices. This was a public act of genuine repentance, signifying a complete break with their former ways and a full surrender to the transforming power of Christ. It laid the foundation for subsequent visible actions, demonstrating their sincerity.

Acts 19 18 Context

Acts chapter 19 describes the powerful ministry of the Apostle Paul in Ephesus, a major city known for its vibrant commerce, significant idol worship (especially of Artemis/Diana), and widespread magical practices and superstitions. Paul’s preaching of the Kingdom of God and Jesus’s name resulted in remarkable miracles, including healings and the expulsion of evil spirits. The public and profound nature of Paul's ministry led many to believe. Verse 18 follows incidents demonstrating the supremacy of Christ’s name, notably the failed exorcism by the seven sons of Sceva (Acts 19:13-17), which instilled fear and respect for the Lord Jesus. This confession is a direct response to the power displayed and the understanding that following Christ requires a clean break from all rival spiritual allegiances and ungodly past behaviors, especially those rooted in magic and paganism, which would be fully repudiated in the subsequent verse where believers burn their expensive magic scrolls.

Acts 19 18 Word analysis

• Many (πολλοί - polloi): Refers to a significant number, indicating a widespread and genuine movement. This wasn't a few isolated cases but a substantial portion of the newly believing community. It emphasizes the broad impact of the Holy Spirit's work.
• of those who believed (τῶν πεπιστευκότων - tōn pepisteukotōn): Uses the perfect participle, which describes an action completed in the past with ongoing results in the present. This highlights that these individuals had already come to faith and become believers. Their confession was not a step to belief, but a deeper consequence of belief, demonstrating a continued, authentic relationship with Christ and a desire for purity.
• now came (ἤρχοντο - ērchonto): An imperfect tense verb, "were coming" or "kept coming." This implies a continuous or repeated action, not a single, isolated event. It suggests an ongoing process of people coming forward to make this public confession, highlighting the depth and sincerity of the spiritual conviction.
• openly confessed (ἐξομολογούμενοι - exomologoumenoi): This compound word carries significant weight. ἐκ (ek, "out") + ὁμολογέω (homologeo, "to speak the same thing," "to agree," "to confess"). The "out" intensifies the "confess" to mean a public, explicit, and full admission. It's not just acknowledging something privately but doing so openly, aligning one's words with truth before others. In this context, it often implies a penitent confession.
• and divulging/reporting (καὶ ἀναγγέλλοντες - kai anangellontes): An additional strong term emphasizing the thoroughness of their disclosure. ἀνά (ana, "up," "back," "again," implying thoroughness) + ἀγγέλλω (aggello, "to announce," "to report"). It suggests that they were "reporting back" or "disclosing fully" the nature of their previous activities, going beyond mere admission to detailed disclosure.
• their practices (τὰς πράξεις αὐτῶν - tas praxeis autōn): πράξεις (praxeis) refers to "deeds," "actions," or "practices." In this immediate context (especially considering v. 19), these "practices" predominantly refer to their involvement in magic, sorcery, pagan rituals, idolatry, and other ungodly activities characteristic of Ephesian culture before their conversion. It underscores that their confession was not merely of internal thoughts or beliefs, but of tangible, active behaviors. The following verse explicitly details the burning of magic scrolls, making the nature of these "practices" clear.
• words-group: "openly confessed and divulging their practices": This phrase captures the depth of repentance. It was not a superficial acknowledgement but a full, public disclosure of past harmful or ungodly activities, particularly magical arts prevalent in Ephesus. This double emphasis on "confessing" and "divulging/reporting" underscores transparency and a complete break from secrecy. This was crucial in a culture steeped in hidden occult practices.

Acts 19 18 Bonus section

The strong verb "ἐξομολογούμενοι" (exomologoumenoi) sometimes implies an acknowledgment with praise or gratitude, but here, paired with confession of "practices," it denotes a public, repentant admission, affirming God's truth regarding their past sinful behavior. The cultural background of Ephesus with its famed "Ephesian letters" (charms and incantations written on scrolls), gives deeper meaning to "their practices." For these believers to confess such deeds openly was a significant renunciation of social status or hidden power in a society that valued magic. This confession also served as a communal purification, strengthening the nascent Ephesian church by bringing hidden sin into the light. It was an essential step towards corporate integrity and powerful Christian witness.

Acts 19 18 Commentary

Acts 19:18 signifies a critical step in the spiritual journey of Ephesian believers: a public and complete confession of their former lives, particularly those aspects steeped in magic and idolatry. This wasn't merely intellectual assent to Christian doctrine but a profound moral and spiritual transformation, driven by a deep conviction of the truth and power of Christ’s name, heightened by recent divine judgments on those who abused it. Their willingness to confess "what they had been doing" publicly was a testament to the reality of their repentance and faith. It distinguished authentic Christianity, which demands a clean break with all competing spiritual allegiances, from the syncretistic practices common in Ephesus. This open confession served as a pre-requisite to, and direct catalyst for, the tangible and costly renunciation of magic detailed in the following verse, highlighting that genuine spiritual renewal involves both inward repentance and outward demonstration. It sets an example that true faith bears the fruit of confession, transparency, and a decisive turning away from all ungodly practices.