Paul In Ephesus; Acts 19:1 – 22 Part 9

Church History: Date: A.D. 53–57

The preachers of the gospel were sent out to carry on a war against Satan, and therein Christ went forth conquering and to conquer. The casting of evil spirits out of those that were possessed was one instance of Christ's victory over Satan; but, to show in how many ways Christ triumphed over that great enemy, we have two remarkable instances of the conquest of Satan, not only in those that were violently possessed by him, but in those that were voluntarily devoted to him. Here is the confusion of some of Satan's servants, some vagabond Jews that were exorcists, who made use of Christ's name profanely and wickedly in their diabolical enchantments, but were made to pay dearly for their presumption.

The general character of those who were guilty of this presumption were Jews, vagabond Jews. They were of the Jewish nation and religion, but went about from town to town to get money by conjuring. They strolled about to tell people their fortunes, and pretended by spells and charms to cure diseases, and bring people to themselves that were melancholy or distracted. They called themselves exorcists, because in doing their tricks they used forms of adjuration, by such and such commanding names. The superstitious Jews, to put a reputation on these magic arts, wickedly attributed the invention of them to Solomon. So Josephus (Antiquities 8. 45-46) says that Solomon composed charms by which diseases were cured, and devils driven out so as never to return; and that these operations continued common place among the Jews to his time. And Christ seems to refer to this (Matthew 12:27), By whom do your children cast them out?