Acts 19:13–20

Footnotes

1. 41 Grk “some Jewish exorcists who traveled about.” The adjectival participle περιερχομένων (perierchomenōn) has been translated as “itinerant.”
2. 42 Grk “to name the name.”
3. 43 Grk “who had.” Here ἔχω (echō) is used of demon possession, a common usage according to ἔχω 7.a.α.
4. 44 The expression I sternly warn you means “I charge you as under oath.”
5. 45 Grk “a certain Sceva.”
6. 46 Within the sequence of the narrative, this amounts to a parenthetical note by the author.
7. 47 Grk “answered and said to them.” The expression, redundant in English, has been simplified to “replied.”
8. 48 Grk “Jesus I know about.” Here Ἰησοῦν (Iēsoun) is in emphatic position in Greek, but placing the object first is not normal in contemporary English style.
9. 49 ἐπίσταμαι 2 has “know, be acquainted with τινά … τὸν Παῦλον Ac 19:15.” Here the translation “be acquainted with” was used to differentiate from the previous phrase which has γινώσκω (ginōskō).
10. 50 But who are you? This account shows how the power of Paul was so distinct that parallel claims to access that power were denied. In fact, such manipulation, by those who did not know Jesus, was judged (v. 16). The indirect way in which the exorcists made the appeal shows their distance from Jesus.
11. 51 Grk “in whom the evil spirit was.”
12. 52 Grk “the man in whom the evil spirit was, jumping on them.” The participle ἐφαλόμενος (ephalomenos) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. L&N 15.239 has “ἐφαλόμενος ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐπʼ αὐτούς ‘the man jumped on them’ Ac 19:16.”
13. 53 Grk “and beating them all into submission.” The participle κατακυριεύσας (katakurieusas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. According to W. Foerster, 3:1098, the word means “the exercise of dominion against someone, i.e., to one’s own advantage.” These exorcists were shown to be powerless in comparison to Jesus who was working through Paul.
14. 54 ἰσχύω 3 has “win out, prevail … κατά τινος over, against someone Ac 19:16.”
15. 55 For location see ; ; ; .
16. 56 Grk “fell on.” ἐπιπίπτω 2 has “φόβος ἐ. ἐπί τινα fear came upon someone … Ac 19:17.”
17. 57 Or “exalted.”
18. 58 Grk “came”; the word “forward” is supplied in the translation to clarify the meaning and to conform to the contemporary English idiom.
19. 59 Or “confessing and disclosing their deeds.” ἀναγγέλλω 2 has “W. ἐξομολογεῖσθαι: ἀ. τὰς πράξεις αὐτοʼν make their deeds known Ac 19:18.” Making their deeds known. Ephesus was a major pagan religious center with much syncretistic “magical” practice. Coming to Jesus changed the lives and attitudes of these believers, creating a social impact.
20. 60 ἱκανός 4.a has “many, quite a few” for ἱκανοί (hikanoi) in this verse.
21. 61 On this term see περίεργος 2.
22. 62 Or “scrolls.”
23. 63 Or “burned them up publicly.” L&N 14.66 has “ ‘they brought their books together and burned them up in the presence of everyone’ Ac 19:19.”
24. 64 Grk “and when.” Because of the length of the Greek sentence, the conjunction καί (kai) has not been translated here. Instead a new English sentence is begun.
25. 65 Or “fifty thousand silver drachmas” (about $10,000 US dollars). ἀργύριον 2.c states, “ἀργυρίου μυριάδας πέντε 50,000 (Attic silver) drachmas Ac 19:19.” Another way to express the value would be in sheep: One drachma could buy one sheep. So this many drachmas could purchase a huge flock of sheep. A drachma also equals a denarius, or a day’s wage for the average worker. So this amount would be equal to 50,000 work days or in excess of 8,300 weeks of labor (the weeks are calculated at six working days because of the Jewish cultural context). The impact of Christianity on the Ephesian economy was considerable (note in regard to this the concerns expressed in 19:26–27).
26. 66 The word of the Lord is a technical expression in OT literature, often referring to a divine prophetic utterance (e.g., Gen 15:1, Isa 1:10, Jonah 1:1). In the NT it occurs 15 times: 3 times as ῥῆμα τοῦ κυρίου (rhēma tou kuriou; Luke 22:61, Acts 11:16, 1 Pet 1:25) and 12 times as λόγος τοῦ κυρίου (logos tou kuriou; here and in Acts 8:25; 13:44, 48, 49; 15:35, 36; 16:32; 19:10; 1 Thess 1:8, 4:15; 2 Thess 3:1). As in the OT, this phrase focuses on the prophetic nature and divine origin of what has been said.
27. 67 The imperfect verb ηὔξανεν (ēuxanen) has been translated as a progressive imperfect, as has the following verb ἴσχυεν (ischuen).
28. 68 The word of the Lord … to prevail. Luke portrays the impact of Christianity in terms of the Lord’s transforming power in the lives of individuals.