“Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, ‘In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.’ Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, ‘Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?’ 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.

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 19:13-17

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APRIL 29, 2025

Jews in Ephesus were trying to use Jesus’s name to drive out evil spirits. Acts 19 does not tell us if anyone was freed of demon possession by this method, but it does relate a confrontation with a demon. The episode of all seven sons being overpowered and beaten by one demon-possessed man indicates the physical power that can be marshalled in a human body by an evil spirit.

These men were dealing with dangerous spiritual forces. The evil spirit admitted it knew Jesus and knew about Paul. The demon recognized the authority of Jesus. But these seven sons of Sceva were using the name of Jesus to attempt an eviction of a demon while having no protection from its power. They were physically assaulted and probably fortunate to escape with their lives.

The incident seems very strange to us, and hard to understand. But the people of Ephesus correctly drew two conclusions. First, the reality of fearful, unseen spiritual forces. Second, that the name of the Lord Jesus is above all names.

Without trust in the supremacy of Jesus Christ, fear is an appropriate response to the evil powers in our world. But the good news does away with fear. Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, we acknowledge the reality of evil in ourselves, our world, and in Satan, who opposes God. The gospel provides forgiveness of sin and freedom from fear and death, for Satan is defeated and death conquered forever at the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Questions for reflection and discussion:

  • How can we respect the reality of evil without giving way to fear?
  • How can we acknowledge spiritual reality in a way that points to Jesus as supreme?
  • In a culture dominated by a materialistic mindset, how can we express spiritual truth in conversations with those who have never seriously thought about God?

 

Church Reading Plan: Numbers 6; Psalm 40-41