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But some of the itinerant Jews, exorcists, took on themselves to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, "We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches."
Verse Takeaways
1
Jesus' Name is Not a Spell
Commentators explain that the itinerant Jewish exorcists were not followers of Christ. They saw the powerful results of Paul's ministry and tried to use Jesus' name as a new magical formula. They treated 'the Jesus whom Paul preaches' as a potent incantation, completely missing that true power comes from a relationship with Jesus Himself, not from merely saying His name.
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7
18th Century
Presbyterian
The vagabond Jews. Greek: Jews going about. periercomenwn. The word vagabond, for us, is now commonly used in a bad sens…
Of the strolling Jews, exorcists (των περιερχομενων Ιουδαιων εξορκιστων). These exorcists travelled around (περ) from place to pla…
19th Century
Anglican
Certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists.—The men belonged to a lower section of the class of which we have already seen representa…
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The use of magical names in incantations to exorcise evil spirits was common in the ancient world, and it seems to have been especially prominent a…
16th Century
Protestant
So that it may more plainly appear that Paul's apostleship was confirmed by those miracles which were recently mentioned, Luke now teaches that whe…
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
Then certain of the vagabond Jews Who strolled about from place to place, pretending to tell fortunes, cure diseases…
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It was common, especially among the Jews, for persons to profess or to try to cast out evil spirits. If we resist the devil by faith in Christ, he …
