English Standard Version
Acts 19:13
13Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims."
Acts 19:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
- New International Version (NIV)Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.”
- New King James Version (NKJV)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.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!”
Context of Acts 19:13
11And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims." 14Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15But the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?"
Read all of Acts 19Acts 19:13 word by word
Ἐπεχείρησαν δέ τινες καὶ τῶν περιερχομένων Ἰουδαίων ἐξορκιστῶν ὀνομάζειν ἐπὶ τοὺς ἔχοντας τὰ πνεύματα τὰ πονηρὰ τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ λέγοντες· ὁρκίζω ὑμᾶς τὸν Ἰησοῦν ὃν Παῦλος κηρύσσει.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Thenδέde · thenG1161
- certainτιςtis · oneG5100
- ofἀπόapo · away fromG575
- the vagabondπεριέρχομαιperierchomai · to go aroundG4022
- JewsἸουδαῖοςIoudaios · JewG2453
- exorcistsἐξορκιστήςexorkistēs · exorcistG1845
- took upon themἐπιχειρέωepicheireō · to attemptG2021
- to callὀνομάζωonomazō · to nameG3687
- overἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- which hadἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- evilπονηρόςponēros · evil/badG4190
- spiritsπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
- the nameὄνομαonoma · nameG3686
- of the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
- JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
- sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- We adjureὁρκίζωhorkizō · to adjureG3726
- youσύsu · youG4771
- whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- PaulΠαῦλοςPaulos · PaulG3972
- preachethκηρύσσωkērussō · to preachG2784
Cross-references for Acts 19:13
- Genesis 4:12When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth."
- Psalms 109:10May his children wander about and beg, seeking food far from the ruins they inhabit!
- Matthew 12:27And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.
- Luke 11:19And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.
- Acts 8:18Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,
- Mark 9:38John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us."
- Luke 9:49John answered, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us."
- Joshua 6:26Joshua laid an oath on them at that time, saying, "Cursed before the Lord be the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho. "At the cost of his firstborn shall he lay its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest son shall he set up its gates."
- 1 Samuel 14:24And the men of Israel had been hard pressed that day, so Saul had laid an oath on the people, saying, "Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies." So none of the people had tasted food.
- 1 Kings 22:16But the king said to him, "How many times shall I make you swear that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?"
- Matthew 26:63But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."
- Mark 5:7And crying out with a loud voice, he said, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me."
Commentaries on Acts 19:13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13Certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists - Ϛ ; Certain of the Jews who went about practicing exorcisms. Vagabond has a very bad acceptation among us; but, literally, vagabundus signifies a wanderer, one that has no settled place of abode. These, like all their countrymen, in all places, went about to get their bread in what way they could; making trial of every thing by which they could have the prospect of gain. Finding that Paul cast out demons through…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13The vagabond Jews - Greek: Jews going about - ́ perierchomenōnThe word “vagabond” with us is now commonly used in a bad sense, to denote “a vagrant; a man who has no home; an idle, worthless fellow.” The word, however, properly means “one wandering from place to place, without any settled habitation, from whatever cause it may be.” Here it denotes “those Jews who wandered from place to place, practicing exorcism.” Exorcists - ̓͂ exorkistōnThis word…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. 1313. vagabond Jews--simply, "wandering Jews," who went from place to place practicing exorcism, or the art of conjuring evil spirits to depart out of the possessed. That such a power did exist, for some time at least, seems implied in Mt 12:27. But no doubt this would breed imposture; and the present case is very different from that referred to in Lu 9:49, 50. We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth--a striking testimony to the power of Christ's name in…Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 19:13
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries