Acts 19:11-13

The Seven Sons of Sceva

19:11 God was performing extraordinary ¹  miracles by Paul’s hands, 19:12 so that when even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his body ²  were brought ³  to the sick, their diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. ⁴  19:13 But some itinerant ⁵  Jewish exorcists tried to invoke the name ⁶  of the Lord Jesus over those who were possessed by ⁷  evil spirits, saying, “I sternly warn ⁸  you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.”

[19:11]  ¹ tn BDAG 1019 s.v. τυγχάνω 2.d states, “δυνάμεις οὐ τὰς τυχούσας extraordinary miracles Ac 19:11.”

[19:12]  ² tn Or “skin” (the outer surface of the body).

[19:12]  ³ tn Or “were taken.” It might be that as word went out into the region that since the sick could not come to Paul, healing was brought to them this way. The “handkerchiefs” are probably face cloths for wiping perspiration (see BDAG 934 s.v. σουδάριον) while the “aprons” might be material worn by workmen (BDAG 923-24 s.v. σιμικίνθιον).

[19:12]  ⁴ tn The words “of them” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.

[19:13]  ⁵ tn Grk “some Jewish exorcists who traveled about.” The adjectival participle περιερχομένων (periercomenwn) has been translated as “itinerant.”

[19:13]  ⁶ tn Grk “to name the name.”

[19:13]  ⁷ tn Grk “who had.” Here ἔχω (ecw) is used of demon possession, a common usage according to BDAG 421 s.v. ἔχω 7.a.α.

[19:13]  ⁸ sn The expression I sternly warn you means “I charge you as under oath.”