¹³Some Jews used to travel from place to place and force evil spirits out of people. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus to force evil spirits out of those who were possessed. These Jews would say, “I order you ⸤to come out⸥ in the name of Jesus, whom Paul talks about.” ¹⁴Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.

¹⁵But the evil spirit answered them, “I know Jesus, and I’m acquainted with Paul, but who are you?” ¹⁶Then the man possessed by the evil spirit attacked them. He beat them up so badly that they ran out of that house naked and wounded.

¹⁷All the Jews and Greeks living in the city of Ephesus heard about this. All of them were filled with awe for the name of the Lord Jesus and began to speak very highly about it. ¹⁸Many believers openly admitted their involvement with magical spells and told all the details. ¹⁹Many of those who were involved in the occult gathered their books and burned them in front of everyone. They added up the cost of these books and found that they were worth 50,000 silver coins. ²⁰In this powerful way the word of the Lord was spreading and gaining strength.

Read in Logos