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Sons of Sceva
Excerpt from the Lexham Bible Dictionary, the most advanced Bible dictionary.
On the west coast of Asia Minor. Made the capital of the Roman province of Asia Minor by Augustus (27 bc—ad 14). Ephesus is the setting for Acts 19. Paul taught daily there for two years (Acts 19:9). The elders from Ephesus came to see Paul on his last journey to Jerusalem (Acts 20:17–18), and in 1 Cor 15:32, Paul says that he fought the beasts there. The city was originally founded ca. 1000 bc by the Greeks. It came under Roman control in 133 bc.
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The Lexham Bible Dictionary
Ephesus
Ephesus (Ἔφεσος, Ephesos). On the west coast of Asia Minor. Made the capital of the Roman province of Asia Minor by Augustus (27 bc—ad 14). Ephesus is the setting for Acts 19. Paul taught daily there for two years (Acts 19:9). The elders from Ephesus came to see Paul on his last journey to Jerusalem
Ephesus, Archaeology
Ephesus, Archaeology of Reviews the archaeology of the site of Ephesus, a city on the west coast of Asia Minor.
Sceva
Sceva (Σκευᾶς, Skeuas). The name of a supposed Jewish high priest whose seven sons or followers were Jewish exorcists (Acts 19:13–19) in Ephesus during the time of Paul’s third missionary journey (ad 53 or 54).
The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary
Ephesus (Place)
EPHESUS (PLACE) [Gk Ephesos (Ἐφεσος)]. A large seaport city in the Roman province of Asia.A. Geographical FeaturesB. Historical SurveyC. History of ExcavationsD. Major Excavations and Restorations1. Temples and Shrines2. Private Dwellings3. Theater4. Agoras5. Library of Celsus6. Gymnasiums
Sceva (Person)
SCEVA (PERSON) [Gk Skeyas (Σκευας)]. A man identified as “a Jewish chief priest” (Acts 19:14), whose seven “sons” (possibly disciples) were itinerant exorcists. In response to the fame achieved by Paul’s miracles during his time in Ephesus, other Jewish exorcists began to use the name of Jesus as a magic
Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible
Ephesus
Ephesus. Most important city of the Roman province of Asia, located on the western shore of Asia Minor (modern Turkey). Ephesus was built on a natural harbor whose waves, according to the Roman writer Pliny the Elder, “used to wash up to the temple of Diana.” Ephesus was described by Strabo, an early
Sceva
Sceva. Father of seven sons and a Jewish chief priest in Ephesus at the time of Paul’s visit on his third missionary journey. Sceva’s sons attempted to imitate Paul’s exorcism of evil spirits in the name of Jesus. Their exorcisms failed, and their authority was not recognized; they consequently were
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised
Ephesus
Ephesus efʹə-səs [Gk. Ephesos—‘desirable’]. An important seaport city of the Roman province of Asia. In the NT it is mentioned in Acts 18:19–28; 19:1, 17–20; 20:16f.; 1 Cor. 15:32; 16:8; 1 Tim. 1:3; 2 Tim. 1:18; 4:12; Rev. 1:11; 2:1. Since some of the earliest MSS omit Gk. en Ephesō̧ (“at Ephesus”)
Sceva
Sceva sēʹvə [Gk. Skeuas] A Jewish high priest whose seven sons were itinerant Jewish exorcists in Ephesus (Acts 19:14) when Paul was there during his third missionary tour (cf. vv 11–20). Because of the great fame of Paul’s miracles, Jewish exorcists had begun to employ the name of Jesus to work similar
Tyndale Bible Dictionary
Ephesus
EPHESUS Most important city of the Roman province of Asia, located on the western shore of Asia Minor (modern Turkey). Ephesus was built on a natural harbor whose waves, according to the Roman writer Pliny the Elder, “used to wash up to the temple of Diana.” Ephesus was described by Strabo, an early
Sceva
SCEVA Father of seven sons and a Jewish chief priest in Ephesus at the time of Paul’s visit on his third missionary journey. Sceva’s sons attempted to imitate Paul’s exorcism of evil spirits in the name of Jesus. The exorcisms failed, and their authority was not recognized. Consequently, they were attacked
The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (Revised and Updated)
Ephesus
Ephesusa port city of western Asia Minor at the mouth of the Cayster River, Ephesus (ef´uh-suhs) lay between Smyrna and Miletus. Although the area had a primitive shrine to the Anatolian mother goddess, was visited by Mycenaeans, and was peopled by Carians and Lelegians, it was first colonized by Ionian
Sceva
Sceva (see´vuh), a Jewish high priest and the father of seven Jewish exorcists who attempted to imitate Paul’s use of the name of Jesus in their exorcising of evil spirits, according to Acts 19:11–20. This unauthorized use of the name had unanticipated negative consequences when, rather than exorcising
The Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia
Ephesus
A view down one of the marble-paved streets of Ephesus, with the silted-in harbor visible in the distance between the first two columns on the right. HFVEPHESUS. The capital of the Roman province of Asia, located at the mouth of the Cayster River on the W coast of Asia Minor. Because of its fine harbor
Sceva
SCEVA. Jewish high priest at Ephesus whose seven sons attempted to cast out a demon in the name of Jesus. Instead, they were wounded by it and had to flee humiliated and naked. God used this experience to turn many people of Ephesus unto Himself (Acts 19:11–20). Since he lived in Ephesus and had a Gr.
The New Bible Dictionary, Third Edition
Ephesus
EPHESUS. The most important city in the Roman province of Asia, on the W coast of what is now Asiatic Turkey. It was situated at the mouth of the Caÿster River between the mountain range of Coressus and the sea. A magnificent road 11 m wide and lined with columns ran down through the city to the fine
Sceva
SCEVA. Actual or putative father of a group of seven magical practioners who, endeavouring to imitate Paul in Ephesus, used a spell with the name of Jesus for exorcism, were repudiated by the demon and set upon by the demoniac: an Incident which deeply impressed Jew and Gentile alike (Acts 19:13ff.).
Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible
Ephesus
Ephesus (Gk. Éphesos)An early Greek colony in southwestern Ionia on the coast of Asia Minor and a member of the 12-city Ionian league (Strabo Geog. 8.7.1). According to legend Ephesus was founded (ca. 900 b.c.e.) by Androclus, son of Codrus, king of Athens (Strabo 14.1.3; Pausanias Descr. Gr. 7.2.7).
Sceva
Sceva (Gk. Skeuás)A Jewish chief priest (Gk. archiereús) whose seven sons attempt to exorcise demons in Ephesus through the name of “Jesus whom Paul proclaims” (Acts 19:14). They meet with disastrous results, as an evil spirit ridicules their misappropriation of Paul’s authority and violently assaults
Eerdmans Bible Dictionary
Ephesus
Ephesus [ĕfˊə səs] (Gk. Ephesos).† A seaport in the Roman province of Asia, about 5.5 km. (3.5 mi.) south of the Caÿster river, opposite the island of Samos.
Sceva
Sceva [sēˊvə] (Gk. Skeuas; Lat. Scaeva).† A Jewish “high priest” whose seven sons were among exorcists in Ephesus who attempted to use the name of “Jesus whom Paul preaches” in exorcism (Acts 19:13–14). The demonized person for whom they attempted this attacked them after the demon had challenged
Dictionary of Paul and His Letters
Ephesus
EphesusThe city of Ephesus was situated on the west coast of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) at the mouth of the Cayster River. This thriving harbor city ranked with Rome, Alexandria and Syrian Antioch as one of the greatest cities of the Roman Empire. The apostle Paul spent nearly three years of his
Catholic Bible Dictionary
Ephesus
EPHESUS The chief city and seaport and capital of the Roman province of Asia in western Asia Minor (modern Turkey) during the period of the New Testament. Ephesus was situated at the mouth of the Caÿster on the Aegean Sea. Occupied by the Ionians around 1100 b.c., it passed into Roman hands in 133 b.c.
Sceva
SCEVA A “Jewish high priest” in Ephesus (Acts 19:14) who was the father of seven “sons” (perhaps disciples), who were itinerant Jewish exorcists. The sons attempted to use the name of the Lord Jesus to perform an exorcism, declaring to the evil spirit, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.”
See also
Relatives
Sceva Father