Acts 19:17 - Exposition

Became for was, A.V.; both Jews and Greeks for the Jews and Greeks also, A.V. ; that dwelt for dwelling, A.V. ; upon for on, A.V. Fear fell upon them . Comp. Acts 5:11-14 , where the same effects are ascribed to the death of Ananias and Sapphire and the signs and wonders which were wrought by the apostles at that time. This fear produced by the putting forth of God's power paralyzed for a time the enemies of the gospel, and enabled believers, as it were, to take possession of their new heritage, just as the miracles at the Red Sea and the destruction of Sihon and Og paralyzed the courage of the Canaanites and enabled the Israelites to take possession of their land ( Joshua 2:9-11 ). With respect to the incident which caused this fear, it might at first seem inconsistent with our Lord's saying to the apostles ( Luke 9:49 , Luke 9:50 ). But the cases were very different. He who cast out devils in the name of Jesus, in the Gospel, does not seem to have had any hostility to the faith, for our Lord speaks of him as one who "is not against us." But these sons of Sceva were among the unbelieving Jews who were "hardened and disobedient;" and if their exorcisms had been permitted to succeed, they would have had power to withstand Paul, as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, and the very purpose for which miraculous power was given to St. Paul would have been frustrated. Therefore they were discomfited, and the subtle design of Satan to destroy, while seeming to magnify, the Name of Jesus was signally defeated. Comp. the somewhat similar incident at Philippi ( Acts 16:16-18 ). Justin Martyr, in his 'Diologue with Trypho,' quoted by Alford on Matthew 12:27 , speaks of the Jews as exorcising, sometimes in the name of kings (referring, doubtless, to Solomon), sometimes of just men, or of prophets, or of patriarchs. So these men took up the name of Jesus.