Paul I Know, But Who are You?
“And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?” (Acts 19:15).
If there was a man who should ever boast: it is the apostle Paul! But he did not glory in anything, save the cross of Christ. Let them that boast of their “greatness” be humbled here. Luke records for us a most interesting passage: The Sons of Sceva (Acts 19:11-20).
These were men who relied on exorcisms, yea, forms of magic. In the Greco-Roman world, many used magic to heal, to curse, or to control evil-spirits. The apostle Paul encountered such magicians on his missionary journeys (see Acts 8:9-24; 13:6-12). The apostle, during these encounters; duly showed how Jesus’ power greatly surpasses any magical spells, and many former magicians became believers (Acts 19:17-20).
In particular, for our interest: let us see that peculiar portion which these sons of sceva met: These seven children of a Jewish high priest named Sceva whilst they were doing their normal routines of casting out evil spirits from people, behold; the evil spirit turned unto them and asked thus: “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” We are told they named the name of Jesus of whom Paul was proclaiming to cast out these spirits, not because they knew Christ. Luke records:
“And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so” (Acts 19:12, 14).
The evil spirits knew very well, these men are possessors of no power at all. Jesus they know. They have met him before, as we may read of various instances from the four Gospels. They tremble at the hearing of his name, as we read from James. And Paul, what about him? Paul they respected. They KNEW him! Paul was an ordinary man, but was possessed by a greater Spirit, yea, the Holy Ghost. So asks the evil spirit unto these men: “Paul we know, but who are you?”
These vagabonds thought to exchange the name of Christ for trifles. They saw Paul’s miracles, and were extraordinary, so that even a handkerchief or apron that had touched a skin that was sick, behold, they got healed instantly, yea, even evil spirits coming out of those they possessed. These aprons and handkerchiefs might be what Paul was using when making tents (18:3). As a touch of faith on the hem of Jesus’ garment brought healing to a woman. See my full article here: https://brokenforchrist159171453.wordpress.com/2019/10/04/if-i-touch-even-his-garments/.
Another instance is that of Peter’s shadow being used to heal others (Acts 5:15, 16). So now here, in this pagan city, as it were, God attests the truth of his gospel and the authority of His messenger with “extraordinary miracles” (19:11).
These Ephesians were accustomed to employ superstitious means to deal with their problems. In those ancient days, it was normal for these magics to take place. No wonder pagan temples existed in this city: such as; the temple of Artemis. So then, when it came that these Jews tried using the name of Jesus, which Paul was professing in, they are confirmed to be powerless.
We read nowhere of their answer after being asked, “Who are you?” This, methinks, might have stayed them to wonder: “What! Does this spirit know Jesus, and Paul, yea, even addresses us?” Immediately Luke records after the question posed at them: “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.”
Note, (1) The evil spirit perceived that Sceva’s son lacked faith in Jesus: The saving faith which lacked in these vagabonds gave them no authority to bear that name which is above all other names: Jesus Christ. (2) The saving power of Jesus’ name is conveyed not by reciting its syllables but by trusting the PERSON who bears the name: They that swim in unbelief swim in that sea which leads to nothing but death. Unbelief, like pride, is the mother of all sins.
Therefore, let us learn, for one thing, the uselessness of using Jesus’ name in secular acts, yea, where there is no faith. It was a wise counsel: “If we resist the devil by a true and lively faith in Christ, he will flee from us but if we think to resist him by bare using of Christ’s name, or any part of his word, as a spell or charm, he will prevail against us.” As we can clearly behold the condition of those vagabonds of Sceva.
Note how Luke closes these verses:
“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. And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed” (Acts 19:17, 20).
They that would want a definition of true conversion, yea, turning from their beloved sins, and occasions that lead them unto their foul evils; behold, let them study these lines which Luke records, most keenly. It was fitting that the “the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.” That is, no scheme of man, or the devil; can thwart or destroy God’s Word, as it were, it MUST proceed!
