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?
• 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?”
• New Living Translation (NLT)But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?”

Context of Acts 19:15

13Some 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.” 14Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 16Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. 17When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.

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 Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.”
• Genesis 3:1Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
• 1 Kings 22:21Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will entice him.’
• Matthew 8:29“What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”
• Mark 1:24“What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
• Mark 5:9Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.”
• Luke 4:33In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice,
• Luke 8:28When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!”

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
• Evil Spirit
• Adjure
• Concourse
• Confused
• Confusion
• Craft
• Curious
• Daemoniac

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