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 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

13Then 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.” 14Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” 16Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

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 16:17This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.”
• Genesis 3:1Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
• 1 Kings 22:21Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’
• Matthew 8:29And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”
• Mark 1:24saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
• Mark 5:9Then He asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.”
• Luke 4:33Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice,
• Luke 8:28When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment 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