Acts 19:15

Acts 19:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
• New International Version (NIV)One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)But the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”

Context of Acts 19:15

13Then some of the traveling Jewish exorcists also attempted to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I implore you and solemnly command you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches!” 14Seven sons of one [named] Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. But the evil spirit retorted, “I know and recognize and acknowledge Jesus, and I know about Paul, but as for you, who are you?” 16Then the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they ran out of that house [in terror, stripped] naked and wounded. 17This became known to all who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified and exalted.

Acts 19:15 word by word

ἀποκριθὲν δὲ τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ πονηρὸν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τὸν Ἰησοῦν γινώσκω καὶ τὸν Παῦλον ἐπίσταμαι· ὑμεῖς δὲ τίνες ἐστέ;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andδέde · thenG1161
• the evilπονηρόςponēros · evil/badG4190
• spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• answeredἀποκρίνωapokrinomai · to answerG611
• and saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• I knowγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• PaulΠαῦλοςPaulos · PaulG3972
• I knowἐπίσταμαιepistamai · to know/understandG1987
• whoτίςtis · which?G5101
• areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• yeσύsu · youG4771

Cross-references for Acts 19:15

• Acts 16:17She followed after Paul and us and kept screaming and shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God! They are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!”
• Genesis 3:1Now the serpent was more crafty (subtle, skilled in deceit) than any living creature of the field which the Lord God had made. And the serpent (Satan) said to the woman, “Can it really be that God has said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?”
• 1 Kings 22:21Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will entice him.’
• Matthew 8:29And they screamed out, “What business do we have [in common] with each other, Son of God? Have You come to torment us before the appointed time [of judgment]?”
• Mark 1:24saying, “What business do You have with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
• Mark 5:9He was asking him, “What is your name?” And he replied, “My name is Legion; for we are many.”
• Luke 4:33There was a man in the synagogue who was possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon; and he cried out with a loud and terrible voice,
• Luke 8:28Seeing Jesus, he cried out [with a terrible voice from the depths of his throat] and fell down before Him [in dread and terror], and shouted loudly, “What business do we have [in common] with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me [before the appointed time of judgment]!”

Commentaries on Acts 19:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15Jesus I know, and Paul I know - In the answer of the demoniac, the verb in varied: , Ϛ· ̔ ( )Ϛ . I acknowledge Jesus, and am acquainted with Paul; but of whom are ye? Ye belong to neither; ye have no authority. And he soon gave them full proof of this. This distinction is observed in my old MS. Bible: I have knowe Jesu, and I wote Poule; forsothe who ben yee.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15Jesus I know - His power to cast out devils I know. Compare Matthew 8:29. Paul I know - Paul‘s power to cast out devils, Acts. Acts 19:12. But who are ye? - What power have you over evil spirits? By what right do you attempt to expel them? The meaning is, “You belong neither to Jesus nor Paul, and you have no right or authority to at tempt to work miracles in the name of either.”Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-20Verses 13-20 It was common, especially among the Jews, for persons to profess or to try to cast out evil spirits. If we resist the devil by faith in Christ, he will flee from us; but if we think to resist him by the using of Christ's name, or his works, as a spell or charm, Satan will prevail against us. Where there is true sorrow for sin, there will be free confession of sin to God in every prayer and to man whom we have offended, when the case requires…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13-16Paul’s ministry was effective, but the traveling Jewish exorcists (people who try to drive out evil spirits) had no real power. They used the name of Jesus as if it were a magic word. However, they did not have a personal relationship with him or the indwelling Holy Spirit (God’s Spirit living in believers). This contrast shows the difference between true faith and empty practice (compare Matthew 12:27; Mark 9:38–39; Luke 9:49–50; 11:19).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 14-1714-17. seven sons of ... Sceva ... chief of the priests--head, possibly, of one of the twenty-four courts.Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 19:15

• Demons
• Ephesus
• Miracles
• Paul
• Sceva
• Sorcery
• Superstition

In the dictionaries

• Jesus
• Paul
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Paul, Saul
• Evil Spirit
• Adjure
• Concourse
• Confused
• Confusion
• Craft

Commentaries on Acts 19

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings