A Beating They’ll Remember Acts 19 by Ben Fronczek

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A Beating They’ll Remember Acts 19

Acts 19 – A Beating they’ll Remember
Read: Acts 19:8-20

Paul had now been teaching in Ephesus for 2 years. Paul probably became quit famous locally. He’s been teaching, and healing, casting out demons and doing all kinds of cool things in the name of Christ. And of course, that’s the key about Paul — he didn’t care about his own fame; he cared about spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. Others, however, saw what he was doing and wanted to get in on the magic show.

And much like Simeon in Acts 8, the Sorcerer who after seeing Peter miraculously heal the sick in the name of Jesus and wanted that power for himself, Enter the seven sons of a Jewish priest named Sceva. They were not even Christians but they began to use the name of Jesus like “Hocus Pocus,” or some kind of incantation or charm trying to do what Paul was doing. In this story we see them trying to drive an evil spirit out of a man by using Jesus’ name.  But something happened that they did not expect.

We read that this evil spirit speaks to them saying, “I know about Jesus, and I know about Paul but who are you? “

The spirit was not afraid of them. He had no respect for them. They had not authority over him.  As a matter of fact the evil spirit causes the possessed man to freak out and attack the seven brothers, and he beats the snot out of all seven of them.

The Bible says: He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. (16)

Naturally, word of this spreads throughout Ephesus, and it says that the people “were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.”

Not only that, but it also goes on to say that, “Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas” (each drachma was a coin equaling a day’s wage). (Acts 19:17-19).

I find this story interesting if not fascinating.

Why were those in Ephesus so moved by this event, this beating, to the point where they were seized with fear and began to look at Jesus and Christians in a new light? They literally began to respect and honor the name of Jesus like never before. Some who were on the fence and believed now came forward and openly confessed their evil deeds. And many who practiced sorcery and witchcraft brought their evil scrolls out and had a big bon fire and burnt them. This was something that these believers should not have had in their homes in the first place.

Why did they do this?
Yes they were a bit superstitious. Not only did they see that evil spirit are real and potentially dangerous here, more importantly saw that those evil spirit also honored and respected Jesus and Paul, and recognize Christians, from non-Christians.

So is there anything we can learn from this today? I believe so.

#1. Most importantly, do not treat the name of Christ lightly. Jesus is God, the creator, the Messiah, the word of God that became flesh and dwelt among us. He is the Savior, the redeemer, the Lord and king of all heaven and earth. Jesus and name should be given honor and respect. Shame on us when we use His name as a curse or swear word.

#2. I also think it’s not wise to mess around with those evil unseen spiritual things that we don’t fully understand. Satan and his demons are real, and they are powerful.  Later when Paul wrote to these people in Ephesus, in his epistle he wrote, “  ¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” 6:6-10

I don’t know what but movie maker seem to be romanticizing and glorifying these evil forces. There are people who even worship the occult.  This dark realm is real, and so it’s wise if we don’t dabble in the occult at all.

#3. Another thing I find quite interesting if not encouraging is the fact that these demon know who you are. I believe that they know exactly what kind of relationship you have with Father God and His Son Jesus.  In the story, the demon tells these seven brothers “I know who Jesus is and who Paul is, but who are you?” And then he proceeds to beat them up.

If they were Christians, I don’t believe that they would have had a problem. Rather they were phonies looking to make a name for themselves.

What I like about this is the fact that it reminds me that we as Christians live in a favored position in the spiritual realm. Why, because God protects His own. I am not saying that you will never come in harm’s way, especially at the hands of other men. But I do believe that God and His angels are working behind the scene protecting us from dangers we just can’t see with these human eyes.

Over and over in the Bible we read about God’s protection:                                                                                             –   In 2 Kings 6, a servant asked Elisha what they were going to do when and a enemy army had surrounded their city and was bent on destruction. Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  And then Elisha prayed that the Lord would open this servant’s eyes so that he could see what was unseen and hidden from our eyes. And the text goes on to say that the Lord opened the servants eyes, and he looked and he saw the hills full of horses and chariots’ of fire around Elisha and the city.

–  Psalm 34:7 says, “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.”

–   Psalm 125:1-2 says, “Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. ² As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore.”

–   And all of psalm 91 is about how God protects his own. Even in the NT,  2 Thessalonians 3:3 says, “the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.”

–  In 1 Peter 1:3-5 says “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,  who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”

If you are a Christian, you are not like everyone else. Like a loving parent protects his child, Father God is likewise watching over us.

For me that encouraging, that God loves and cares for me that much. I pray that it also encourages you this day!   But even more than encouraging you, I pray that it will move you to do what those Ephesians did.

This week and every week from now on I challenge you to be careful how you use the name of Jesus. His name is to honored and glorified.

And secondly, I challenge you that if you have anything in your home that is unwholesome, or tempts you to do evil or unwholesome things, like those evil scrolls tempted those Ephesians to do evil, I challenge you to get rid of it. Maybe it’s a We-gee board, maybe you have books or magazines that contain material that you know is evil in God’s eyes. Get rid of it. If you have any secret sin, confess it to the Lord and ask Him to protect you from such worldly influence.