Author: Charlie Garrett

Green green grass of Washington.

Saturday, 5 August 2023

Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. Acts 19:14

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

The words more precisely read, “And there were certain sons of Sceva – a Jew, a high priest – seven are doing this.”

In the previous verse, wandering Jewish exorcists were using the name of Jesus in an attempt to exorcise evil spirits. Luke now continues, saying, “And there were certain sons of Sceva.”

This Sceva (Greek: Skeuas) is not seen anywhere else and his name is otherwise completely unknown. Strong’s thinks it could be from a Latin name meaning “left-handed.” However, Abarim says it is derived from skeuos which describes any kind of portable utensil. As such, they define his name as Handy Man, Pragmatist, or maybe Sorcerer’s Apprentice. As for this Sceva, he is next identified as “a Jew, a high priest.”

This title is speculated to be one of many things. There is no definite article and so it is “a chief priest.” He could have been one of the leaders of the twenty-four courses of priests first recorded in 1 Chronicles 24, a member of the Sanhedrin, a leader of the Jews in Ephesus, or some other person of note, or claiming to be of note by using the title without any commission to do so.

Of his sons, they are next numbered as “seven.” All seven are itinerant exorcists. Probably the reason for giving the number is to show that this wasn’t just a wayward son who was out embarrassing his father. Rather, he had seven sons and all seven were doing it. Thus, it is an indication that they were brought up in this manner. The father was using his position (real or supposed) as a chief priest in this way, and they were following suit. Of these seven sons, Luke next records that they “are doing this.”

It is a present participle denoting that it was their regular and ongoing practice. This sets the stage for what is to come as the narrative continues.

Life application: Titles do not make a person. Too often, people get star-struck by titles, treating the bearer of them with unhealthy attention. Obviously, if someone has a title and that is all you know about him, it helps establish a baseline for who you are dealing with. However, as you get to know the individual, you may find out that the person you are dealing with doesn’t deserve the respect of the title he possesses.

Be ever on guard to evaluate people fairly and without bias. There are innumerable people who don’t possess any title of note in society and yet who are decent, honorable folks worthy of great respect. There are also lots of people with important titles that aren’t worthy of a greeting in the morning.

Treat people according to the person they are, apart from titles, positions, genealogies, etc. This is a good way to establish your relationships, and you will find your friends and associates will be people you can depend upon as you continue throughout life.

Heavenly Father, help us to not show favoritism toward others, but to treat people fairly and according to who they are as people of true and honorable character. May we not get caught up in flashy titles, important positions in society, or how rich others are. Instead, help us to notice the more important aspects of life in the people we deal with. Amen.

Washington State. Location unknown.

Friday, 4 August 2023

Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Acts 19:13

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

The NKJV is a bit off. More precisely, it reads, “And certain of the vagabonding Jews, exorcists, undertook to invoke over those having evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, ‘We adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims’” (CG).

The previous verse noted the healings and exorcisms that occurred when Paul’s handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick. Luke next records, “And certain of the vagabonding Jews.”

The introductory words “And … of (literally from)” are given to contrast what was just stated about Paul. Healings and the removal of evil spirits were brought about indirectly through him as the material cause of God’s power. Now, this contrasting account is provided by Luke as an instructional tool.

In them is a new word in Scripture, perierchomai. It signifies “to go about” or “to make a circuit.” It will be seen again in 1 Timothy 5:13 and Hebrews 11:37. As it is in the form of an aorist participle, it should be rendered “wandering,” “roving,” “vagabonding,” “strolling,” etc. In this case, rather than just wandering around their own town, it appears that they are itinerant, going from town to town in a manner not unlike gypsies. Thus, “vagabonding” seems to give a sense of their lifestyle. They are next noted as “exorcists.”

It is a word found only here in Scripture, exorkistés. It is one who casts out evil spirits, adjuring them by oaths and incantations. That is from exorkizó, an intensive form of a word meaning to adjure. That word is found only in Matthew 26:63 –

“But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, ‘I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!’”

That word is then derived from horkizó, which also means to adjure. This word will be used as the verse continues.

These exorcists went from place to place challenging those who had evil spirits, adjuring them to depart from those who were tormented by them. With that in mind, it next says that they “undertook to invoke over those having evil spirits.”

The word translated as “invoke” means “to name.” For example, Simon was “named” Peter by Jesus. In this case, they took it upon themselves to invoke “the name of the Lord Jesus.” What is obvious is that these were not saved believers. Luke does not term them brethren. Rather, they had heard about the healing powers of Jesus’ name, and they took it as a sort of verbal talisman to ward off or cast out evil spirits.

They may have heard of Jesus having cast out demons in the past, and/or they may have derived this idea from what was recorded about Paul in the previous verses. Paul didn’t even have to go to the place of healing for it to take place. Thus, they assumed that it was simply the name of Jesus that possessed the power. Their error in thinking will reveal them as false exorcists. What they are doing is not unlike what Jesus was accused of in Matthew 12 –

“Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, ‘This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.’
²⁵ But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. ²⁶ If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? ²⁷ And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. ²⁸ But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.’” Matthew 12:24-28

The Pharisees accused Jesus of invoking Beelzebub as His authority to cast out demons. These Jews are taking Jesus’ name and are attempting to do the same – though not necessarily for the same reason – saying, “We adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.”

Here, they use the word horkizó, noted above. They are attempting to bind the evil spirits by oath while using the name of Jesus proclaimed by Paul. Their assumption is that Paul was likewise invoking the name of Jesus in an incantation.

Life application: What these false exorcists have failed to take into consideration is that the name “Jesus,” even the “Jesus whom Paul proclaims,” is not in and of itself an instrument of power. There must be a valid connection to the Person who bears the name.

This is no different than what people do all the time in Charismatic churches. They claim the power of the name as if the name itself will then cause obedience to their demands, be they for healing, casting out demons, prosperity, wealth, etc. This makes obtaining the outcome for self the final cause of the act.

However, it has already been explained that the final cause of God’s acts is that He be glorified. Thus, there is a disconnect in the process, a fault, that cannot be overcome by using the name of Jesus in this manner.

In the case of these false exorcists, or in the case of charismatics who make their claims, the supposed material cause is the claimant, he is the one who attempts to make the thing (like wood in a table) to be. The formal cause, the design, is supposed to be the miracle as it occurs. The efficient cause, what brings it about, is supposedly the Lord’s presence working through the claimant’s use of the name of Jesus. The final cause, the purpose, is that the claimant or his addressee will be the main beneficiary.

Because the glory of God is not the final cause, the other causes cannot accomplish what is anticipated. Think of these aspects of the process as you consider these words from Deuteronomy 13 –

“If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, ² and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’—which you have not known—‘and let us serve them,’ ³ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. ⁴ You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. ⁵ But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall put away the evil from your midst.” Deuteronomy 13:1-5

Even if the Lord allowed a sign or wonder to come to pass by someone, His glory is what is anticipated as the final cause. This is not what false teachers and false prophets ultimately have in mind. If anything, other than the glory of God is the main result of the process, the process is not of God.

Lord God, help us to properly analyze what is happening when people use Your name in the world today. It is obvious that many do so to profit from it at the expense of Your glory. May we be discerning enough to see when this is the case and turn away  from such people and such false teachings. May we be instruments working to bring You honor and glory with our lives. Amen.

Because boats are fun.

Thursday, 3 August 2023

so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. Acts 19:12

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

The previous verse noted the unusual (not matched) miracles that God worked through Paul. The account of that now continues, saying, “so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought.”

The word translated as handkerchief, soudarion, is seen for the last of four times in this verse. It is “Of Latin origin; a sudarium (sweat cloth). i.e. Towel (for wiping the perspiration from the face, or binding the face of a corpse) — handkerchief, napkin” (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance).

The word translated as apron, simikinthion, is found only here. It is also “Of Latin origin; a semicinctium or half-girding, i.e. Narrow covering (apron) – apron” (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance).

Both of these were probably items that Paul used while working his trade as a tentmaker. He would be working and sweating, so he would use the handkerchief. He would also be wearing the apron while doing his cutting and sewing to protect his regular garments, as is common with any such skilled laborer. These were brought “from his body.”

It is another word found only here in Scripture, chrós. It signifies the surface of the body, the skin. Despite this, Vincent’s Word Studies notes that in medical language it was used as a reference to the body itself. The same terminology is used even today in a negative way when one might say, “That guy is just wasted skin.” It speaks of the whole person, represented by the skin covering. These were carried from his body and were taken “to the sick.”

The reason for this is probably as simple as a token of acknowledgment. Paul is working, maybe finishing an order for a customer. Someone comes up to him and says, “We have a sick person that we would like you to come and pray over.” Paul may have then said, “Give me forty-five minutes. I am on the final stitching of this tent and the man is waiting to take it.” With that, the disciple says, “Don’t worry about it, Sir, just give me your handkerchief. I’ll take it to the person.”

Luke, being a physician, highlights such activities, knowing that they were certainly of a miraculous nature. The unusual workings here would be a sign to those in the synagogue and a means of edification for those at Tyrannus. This care for the sick would not be unlike what happened during Jesus’ ministry –

“Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, ‘Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. ⁷ Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. ⁸ For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, “Go,” and he goes; and to another, “Come,” and he comes; and to my servant, “Do this,” and he does it.’” Luke 7:6-8

The centurion knew that God was working through Jesus. He simply asked for a token, a word, knowing that was all that was needed. Likewise, the disciples knew that God was working through Paul as just stated in the previous verse. If this was so, then it wasn’t Paul at all that accomplished the healing. He was simply the material cause (as described in the previous verse). As this was so, then God could work just as easily through his sweaty napkin as He could through his physical presence.

Thus, this was to demonstrate to the person that God approved of Paul’s ministry and that He was working through Paul in a real way to bring glory to Himself. In Paul’s case, he was proclaiming Jesus as Lord (verse 10). Therefore, God was being glorified in Christ Jesus (the final cause) through Paul’s ministry.

This was being carried out by God (the efficient cause, which was the Lord’s presence) through Paul’s articles of trade (which were the material cause as being connected to Paul). With this understood, it next says, “and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.”

These actions are the formal cause, the design. They are the miracles that occurred. The people could see or personally experience the events taking place and know, without any doubt at all, that God had accomplished these things, that they were done through Paul, and thus Paul’s ministry was validated through what occurred. Because Paul’s ministry proclaimed the Lord Jesus, God was glorified in Christ by the events that took place.

Life application: Quite often, the words of 1 Peter 2:24 are used to justify healing of people today, “by whose stripes you were healed.” Sometimes, the person who calls out those words will also pretend that God is working through him to bring about healing. Often, televangelists and others will send healing cloths, healing water, etc., to people, claiming that they have this same special power as seen in Acts 19.

The words of 1 Peter 2:24 are not intended to be used in this manner. The obvious question for all believers to consider is “Healed of what?” What healing is Peter referring to? Is it healing from the sniffles? Is it healing from cancer? Is it healing from any other body ailments? The answer is “No” to all of them. The whole verse says, “…who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.”

Peter referred to sin and only sin. The highly inappropriate nature of claiming physical healing based on the words of either Isaiah 53:5, or 1 Peter 2:24, is obvious. Healing from the effects of sin, such as sickness, anxiety, trouble, and death, may come about through prayer and/or right living, or it may only come about when the believer is translated to glory. But claiming physical healing of any type based on the words of Peter is not only poor doctrine, it is a false teaching which leads hopeful believers into sad paths of dejection and turmoil when they are not healed of the physical affliction they fervently desire to be healed of.

Paul was used as an instrument of healing to validate his ministry. The words of Luke have been recorded. The ministry stands validated through Scripture. There is no longer a need to validate Paul’s ministry in this manner. Today, preachers and teachers are to be evaluated based on adherence to the word of God. There is no need for external validations of their ministries, and none will be provided.

Claiming healing in such ways can only lead to false expectations and weakened faith in those who are not healed. We can pray for healing and hope for it to come about, but we should never be so presumptuous as to claim it. We do not possess that authority. The word is written, and we are to live by faith in what is documented there.

The amazing part of what is conveyed to us in Scripture is that God took our pain and our suffering and placed it on His own precious Son. The healing we receive because of His cross is spiritual and it is eternal. We have new life because of the work of Jesus Christ.  Praise God in the highest for what He has done for us in the giving of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Thank You, O Lord, for the wonderful blessing of Jesus and the healing He provides. Through Him and through His suffering, we are healed of our state of corruption and death, and we now have new life through Him. How precious it is to be called a son of the Living God because of His terrible trials! May we never forget what He went through to restore us to You. Thank You for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Another photo because I like boats.

Wednesday, 2 August 2023

Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, Acts 19:11

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

The words are rather difficult to translate literally, but a close rendering of the Greek would be, “And miracles – not matched – God was working by the hands of Paul” (CG).

The previous verse noted that Paul continued in the school of Tyrannus for two years and that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord. This included both Jews and Greeks. With that noted, it next says, “And miracles – not matched.” The word translated as “miracles” is dunamis. It signifies “ability to perform,” and is often translated as “mighty works,” “power,” etc. It was commonly used to describe the deeds Jesus performed, and it has also been used in Acts quite a few times.

This is the only time it is used of Paul’s abilities, and it is also the last time it is used in the book of Acts. One can see the etymological root for our modern word “dynamite” in it. The next words are rather difficult to translate as they read in the Greek, ou tas tychousas, or as close to literal as possible, “not the matched.”

The verb is tugchanó. It means “to strike (hit the mark, i.e. ‘spot on,’ ‘hit the bullseye’); to light upon, fall in line with; ‘happen to find oneself’ in the scene of life the Lord has already prepared” (HELPS Word Studies). As it is preceded by the word “not,” and being in the form of an aorist participle, saying “not matched” gives a close sense of what is being conveyed. Paul hit the mark with his miracles so precisely that they were not matched by anyone else.

The same phrase is similar to that stated in Acts 28:2, where it says, “And the natives showed us unusual kindness.” Translating the words as an adjective in this manner doesn’t convey the full sense of the words. As for the cause of the miracles, it next says, “God was working by the hands of Paul.”

In these words, Aristotle’s four causes can be expressed: The material cause is Paul, he is the one who makes the thing (like wood in a table) to be. The formal cause, the design, is the miracle as it occurs. The efficient cause, what brings it about, is the Lord’s presence working through Paul. And the final cause, the purpose, is that God will be glorified.

Life application: When you read in the Bible about miracles that occur, the Lord’s battles that will be waged, prophecies that are made, etc., each of these is occurring in a manner that displays how God operates within His creation. A good way to think of them is to consider them in relation to the causes expressed by Aristotle.

If you have a beautiful wood table in your house, it didn’t just wind up there by chance. There is the material cause of the table, wood. That can be further subdivided into types of wood. Other materials are also probably used, but for simplicity’s sake, wood alone is sufficient.

There is the formal cause of the table, its design. You may want a dinner table, a corner table, a nightstand, etc. Whatever the design is, that is the formal cause.

There is also the efficient cause, the carpenter (or simply carpentry). That is what makes the wood into a table, taking into consideration the design and purpose.

Lastly, there is the final cause. What is the ultimate purpose of what is being made? It may be dining. It may be for displaying an antique. It may be a butcher’s table. That is what it is used for and why it was built in the first place.

In considering these things from a biblical perspective, one can see that God is the efficient cause of these things, He selects the formal and efficient causes to effect the purpose that is to come about. And His glory is the final cause of what occurs.

If you evaluate “miracles,” “healings,” “teachings,” and so forth of people who claim they serve the Lord, you may not be able to determine the efficient cause, but you can with careful paying attention be wise enough to discern if they are meeting the proper final cause. Is God truly being glorified through what they are doing, or is their enrichment, fame, power, etc., really what is being highlighted?

Think about the ministries you follow and consider what their ultimate purpose is. God’s glory. That should be it!

Lord God, we do have needs in this world, but ultimately, what happens to us is not all that important because You have promised us something far better in the life to come. Help us to be focused on Your glory at all times. May we be willing to share with others the good news of Jesus Christ so that You will be glorified through their acceptance of Him. Amen.

Fishing boat. Washington.

Tuesday, 1 August 2023

And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. Acts 19:10

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

In the previous verse, Paul had moved from the synagogue to the school of Tyrannus. Now being established there, it next says, “And this continued for two years.” Adding this to the time already spent in the synagogue, Paul worked well into his third year in Ephesus. Charles Ellicott believes that it may have been during this time that Paul also established the other churches in Asia noted in Revelation 2 & 3.

This is possible, or it could be that travelers to Ephesus heard the word there and went back to establish a church in their local area. Regardless, it should be noted that Paul continued to work with his own hands throughout the entire time (Acts 20:34). He never sponged off of those he ministered to but continued to support himself while also raising up new converts and discipling those who were converted.

It is also believed that he may have visited other established churches during this period as well, such as Corinth. In 2 Corinthians 12:14, he notes that his impending visit would be his third to them. If that is the same as the visit recorded in Acts 20:2, 3, which follows his time in Ephesus, then he may have taken a short visit during this two-year period to see them and build them up.

As for his time now being recorded in Ephesus, Luke next notes, “so that all who dwelt in Asia.” The verb is a present participle. It more rightly is rendered “all those dwelling in Asia.” The words of instruction from Paul actively went out beyond the school of Tyrannus.

As for the words themselves, they are to be taken as a form of hyperbole. It is reasonable to think that not everyone in Ephesus, much less the province of Asia, was affected by Paul’s ministry. Rather, it is a way of saying that his efforts were available to all in Asia.

Such superlative statements are found in the gospels, Acts, and the epistles. One example to demonstrate this would be –

“Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him ⁶ and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.” Matthew 3:4-6

“And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. ³⁰ But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.” Luke 7:29, 30

Thus, the point of the superlative is to say that John’s baptism was available to all. None were turned away who desired it. Likewise, Paul’s ministry and his proclamation were, likewise, available to all.

As Ephesus was a great hub of trade and commerce, it is not surprising that the word went out to other parts of Asia, or that Paul could personally go from there on short mission trips or even send others who were trained in the word to do so.

Noting that it included all of Asia and not just Ephesus, it also lends credence to the thought that the other churches in Asia were probably established by, or at least had an initial point that was affected by, Paul. As for what Paul proclaimed, that is explained by the words that these people “heard the word of the Lord Jesus.”

This means the doctrine concerning the Lord Jesus, but specifically the gospel. As Paul proclaimed what he had been personally instructed by the Lord (Galatians 1:12), then the word of Paul is the word of the Lord Jesus – both about and from. With that understood, Luke next notes this word went out to “both Jews and Greeks.”

Despite Paul removing himself from the synagogue, he did not remove the Jews from his evangelistic efforts. Being a tent maker, he would have remained in an area where other Jews plied their trades as well. Thus, even if not in the synagogue, his words would continue among his people as well as among the Greek population.

Life application: It is not uncommon for a pastor, preacher, or teacher to dogmatically claim that every “every” in the Bible means exactly that, or that all “all”s in the Bible must be taken literally. This is not a responsible way to consider what is being expressed. In fact, the opposite is quite often the case.

One must be familiar with the entire context of such a claim before making it. Otherwise, a false idea will be instilled in the heads of those being instructed. Be aware of the use of such superlatives. As you read the Bible, maybe highlight them and keep them in mind. As you continue through the word, consider what you have highlighted. This will help you to properly consider the use of the words. It will also help you to expand your knowledge base in other areas.

Doing a study in one area will inevitably lead you to draw conclusions in other areas as well. Keep expanding yourself through contemplating, meditating upon, and analyzing this precious word. You will be rewarded in heart and soul as you do, and you will be pleasing to the Lord who gave the word in the first place.

Lord God, may we carefully consider Your word, not coming to unfounded conclusions about it. Rather, help us to be responsible in how we analyze it. There is a lifetime of study ahead of us, so help us to be patient and methodical as we search out its wonders. Thank You, O God, for Your precious and sacred word. Amen.