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

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!” 14Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. But 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. 17The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored.

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, and they have come to tell you how to be saved.”
• Genesis 3:1The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”
• 1 Kings 22:21and finally a spirit approached the Lord and said, ‘I can do it!’
• Matthew 8:29They began screaming at him, “Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before God’s appointed time?”
• Mark 1:24“Why are you interfering 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 demanded, “What is your name?” And he replied, “My name is Legion, because there are many of us inside this man.”
• Luke 4:33Once when he was in the synagogue, a man possessed by a demon—an evil spirit—cried out, shouting,
• Luke 8:28As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of him. Then he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, 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
• 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