Acts 19:13

The Message

Some itinerant Jewish exorcists who happened to be in town at the time tried their hand at what they assumed to be Paul’s “game.” They pronounced the name of the Master Jesus over victims of evil spirits, saying, “I command you by the Jesus preached by Paul!” The seven sons of a certain Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were trying to do this on a man when the evil spirit talked back: “I know Jesus and I’ve heard of Paul, but who are you?” Then the possessed man went berserk—jumped the exorcists, beat them up, and tore off their clothes. Naked and bloody, they got away as best they could.

Cross References

1 Kings 22:16

“Not so fast,” said the king. “How many times have I made you promise under oath to tell me the truth and nothing but the truth?”

Matthew 26:63

Jesus kept silent. Then the Chief Priest said, “I command you by the authority of the living God to say if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

Mark 9:38

John spoke up, “Teacher, we saw a man using your name to expel demons and we stopped him because he wasn’t in our group.”

Luke 9:49

John spoke up, “Master, we saw a man using your name to expel demons and we stopped him because he wasn’t of our group.”

2 Corinthians 11:4

It seems that if someone shows up preaching quite another Jesus than we preached—different spirit, different message—you put up with him quite nicely. But if you put up with these big-shot “apostles,” why can’t you put up with simple me? I’m as good as they are. It’s true that I don’t have their voice, haven’t mastered that smooth eloquence that impresses you so much. But when I do open my mouth, I at least know what I’m talking about. We haven’t kept anything back. We let you in on everything.

Joshua 6:26

Joshua swore a solemn oath at that time: Cursed before God is the man who sets out to rebuild this city Jericho. He’ll pay for the foundation with his firstborn son, he’ll pay for the gates with his youngest son.

1 Samuel 14:24

Saul did something really foolish that day. He addressed the army: “A curse on the man who eats anything before evening, before I’ve wreaked vengeance on my enemies!” None of them ate a thing all day.