Acts 19:14

Acts 19:14 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
• New International Version (NIV)Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.

Context of Acts 19:14

12When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled. 13A 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!” Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. 15But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” 16Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered.

Acts 19:14 word by word

ἦσαν δέ Σκευᾶ Ἰουδαίου ἀρχιερέως ἑπτὰ υἱοὶ τοῦτο ποιοῦντες.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andδέde · thenG1161
• there wereεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• ·τιςtis · oneG5100
• sevenἑπτάhepta · sevenG2033
• sonsυἱόςuihos · sonG5207
• ofΣκευᾶςSkeuas · ScevaG4630
• a JewἸουδαῖοςIoudaios · JewG2453
• chief of the priestsἀρχιερεύςarchiereus · high-priestG749
• which didποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• soοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778

Commentaries on Acts 19:14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests - The original , dignifies a Jewish high priest; but it is not probable that any sons, much less seven sons of a Jewish high priest, should be strolling exorcists: it is therefore likely that ̔ ̔, the sons of Skeva, a certain priest, as it stands in the Codex Bezae, is the true reading. The whole verse in that MS. reads thus: Among them there also the sons of Skeva, a priest, who wished to do the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14One Sceva - Sceva is a Greek name, but nothing more is known of him. Chief of the priests - This cannot mean that he was high priest among the Jews, as it is wholly improbable that his sons would be wandering exorcists. But it denotes that he was of the sacerdotal order. He was a Jewish chief priest; a priest of distinction, and had held the office of a ruler. The word “chief priest,” in the New Testament, usually refers to men of the sacerdotal order who…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 19:14

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

In the dictionaries

• Adjure
• Concourse
• Confused
• Confusion
• Craft
• Curious
• Danger
• Fall
• Implead
• James

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