[The posts which follow make extensive use of The Acts of the Apostles, by Madame Cecilia, (Religious of St Andrew's Convent, Streatham), with an Imprimi potest dated 16 October 1907 (Westminster); Burns, Oates & Washbourne Ltd. (London). With grateful prayers for the author and her team:
REQUIEM æternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiescant in pace. Amen.ETERNAL rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.]
Acts XIX : 13-22
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| St Paul preaching at Ephesus. Eustache Le Sueur (1649). National Gallery, London.© CC BY NC ND 4.0. |
[14] And there were certain men, seven sons of Sceva, a Jew, a chief priest, that did this.
[15] But the wicked spirit, answering, said to them: Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?
[16] And the man in whom the wicked spirit was, leaping upon them, and mastering them both, prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
[17] And this became known to all the Jews and the Gentiles that dwelt at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
[18] And many of them that believed, came confessing and declaring their deeds.
[19] And many of them who had followed curious arts, brought together their books, and burnt them before all; and counting the price of them, they found the money to be fifty thousand pieces of silver. [20] So mightily grew the word of God, and was confirmed.
[21] And when these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying: After I have been there, I must see Rome also.
[22] And sending into Macedonia two of them that ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself remained for a time in Asia.
[13] Tentaverunt autem quidam et de circumeuntibus Judaeis exorcistis, invocare super eos qui habebant spiritus malos, nomen Domini Jesu, dicentes : Adjuro vos per Jesum, quem Paulus praedicat. [14] Erant autem quidam Judaei Scevae principis sacerdotum septem filii, qui hoc faciebant. [15] Respondens autem spiritus nequam dixit eis : Jesum novi, et Paulum scio : vos autem qui estis?
[16] Et insiliens in eos homo, in quo erat daemonium pessimum, et dominatus amborum, invaluit contra eos, ita ut nudi et vulnerati effugerent de domo illa. [17] Hoc autem notum factum est omnibus Judaeis, atque gentilibus, qui habitabant Ephesi : et cecidit timor super omnes illos, et magnificabatur nomen Domini Jesu. [18] Multique credentium veniebant, confitentes et annuntiantes actus suos. [19] Multi autem ex eis, qui fuerant curiosa sectati, contulerunt libros, et combusserunt coram omnibus : et computatis pretiis illorum, invenerunt pecuniam denariorum quinquaginta millium. [20] Ita fortiter crescebat verbum Dei, et confirmabatur.
[21] His autem expletis, proposuit Paulus in Spiritu, transita Macedonia et Achaia, ire Jerosolymam, dicens : Quoniam postquam fuero ibi, oportet me et Romam videre. [22] Mittens autem in Macedoniam duos ex ministrantibus sibi, Timotheum et Erastum, ipse remansit ad tempus in Asia.
Notes
13. Jewish exorcists. Heathen writers record that numbers of itinerant Jews in various parts of the world made a profession of magical arts. They professed to have inherited from Solomon the power of casting out evil spirits, and among them, and in other Oriental nations, exorcising was a recognised profession.
The numerous warnings against witchcraft and other occult arts, found in the Old Testament, prove that the Jews were always inclined to these practices which consisted in telling fortunes, casting spells and enchantments, reading the stars, etc. The Ephesians were notorious for their magical practices. As the possession of devils is a real phenomenon, there is a special order in the Hierarchy of the Catholic Church— that of the exorcist, whose office is to assist the priest in casting out evil spirits,
went about. Lit. “going round and about” (περιερχομενων) in search of gain. The phrase in the Greek reads “certain itinerant Jewish exorcists attempted,” etc. Some of the more famous magicians, like Barjesu and Simon Magus, settled down in the service of important and wealthy persons, over whom they obtained an influence.
attempted. “See the villainy of these men. They still continued to be Jews while wishing to make traffic of that Name. All they did w'as for glory and profit ” (St John Chrys., Hom., xli.).
the name. All the Jewish exorcists invoked some name. They employed for this purpose the name of Solomon and of other kings, and also those of certain prophets and patriarchs.
I conjure you, etc. Some MSS. have the plural “ we conjure,” etc., but the singular is the best supported reading.
There was nothing wrong in the formula employed. The ?motive? of the exorcists was evil, and they had not faith in Christ [blank] the apostles complained. Cf. John answered him saying : John answered him, saying: Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, who followeth not us, and we forbade him. But Jesus said: Do not forbid him. For there is no man that doth a miracle in my name, and can soon speak ill of me. (St Mark ix. 37- 38). The apostles could not expel evil spirits if their own faith was weak, as we see from the example of the lunatic boy, from whom the spirit did not go forth because of their unbelief. (See St Matt. xvii. 19.)
14. there were certain men,seven sons, etc. The Bezan text reads, “ amongst whom also the sons of one Sceva, a priest, wished to do the same, (who) were accustomed to exorcise such persons. And entering into (the house of) the possessed, they began to invoke over him the name, saying; ‘We charge thee by Jesus, whom Paul preacheth, to come forth.’ ’’
a chief priest. The name of Sceva is not found in Josephus’ list of high-priests ; also some MSS. read simply “ priest.” This man may have been a ruler of the synagogue, or one of the heads of the twenty-four courses. It is scarcely probable that an ex-high-priest would be living at Ephesus.
15. the wicked spirit answering. The evil spirit spoke by means of the man’s vocal organs, just as he employed the man’s limbs to over- power the exorcists.
The evil spirits certainly knew our Lord and often confessed His power, e.g. the man with an unclean spirit cried out saying : What have we to do with thee, Jesus of Nazareth ? art thou come to destroy us? I know who thou arty the Holy One of God (St Mark i. 24. See also St Luke iv. 41, viii. 28).
who are you ? The words express contempt and exasperation, not ignorance.
16. the man. Note the dual personalities. Now the evil spirit is said to act, now the man.
mastering them. Men possessed by evil spirits often gave proofs of supernatural strength.
Thus the Gerasen demoniac was so strong that no man now could bind him, not even with chains,for having been often bound with fetters and chains, he had burst the chains, and broken the fetters in pieces, and no one could tame him (St Mark v. S-4),
both. (ἀμφοτερων.) This word shews that only two of Sceva’s sons had attempted to exorcise this demonaic. Some MSS. read “ them ” (αὐτων), instead of “both,” but the latter reading has the support of A, B, D, several cursives and the Vulgate.
17. Jews and the gentiles. A special stress is laid on the cosmopolitan population of Ephesus (see verse 10).
fear fell. The results produced resemble those which followed the sudden death of Ananias and Saphira (see supra, v. 13).
the name of the Lord Jesus, etc. His name was seen to be more powerful than those habitually invoked by the Jewish exorcists.
18. that believed. Lit. “who had believed” (πεπιστευκοτων). They had already joined the ranks of the disciples, but still practised magical art secretly. Now their conscience was aroused and they made a generous public act of renunciation, and thus gave an unequivocal proof of their contrition.
Converts to the Catholic Church frequently have to renounce some profession which is incompatible with the precepts of the Gospel. Want of courage in this matter often prevents souls from seeking admission into the one true Fold, or, if they have been admitted, it hinders them in the service of God.
confessing. This confession was public, like that made by those whom St John baptized. Cf. They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins (St Matt. iii. 6).
declaring, — i.e. explaining how these sorceries were performed.
deeds. Those connected with witchcraft, sorcery, spells, incantations, and the charms, known as “Ephesian Letters.”
19. many of them. Those who burnt their books were not as numerous as the “many” who came confessing. The books being handwritten, and very ancient, were only possessed by the wealthier converts.
Curious arts, (τα περιεργα.) This corresponds to the Latin “curiosa,” which signifies any magical practices, or arts which man has no right to investigate, because they belong to a supernatural sphere of evil. The corresponding noun of agent is sometimes rendered “busy-body,” i.e. one who pries into others’ business. Cf. Tattlers also, and busy-bodies, s'peaking things which they ought not (1 Tim. v. 13).
their books. These books contain recipes for incantations and spells. Being written on rolls of parchment, they would blaze up more easily than our modern books. This public recantation probably took place in the Agora or in one of the public places of the town. By burning the books which contained these pernicious secrets of sorcery, these converts removed a danger from themselves and others. It, would have been a sin to sell or give these books away, and thus to propagate evil.
Such an act of reparation and acknowledgment of evil-doing must have produced a great impression on the spectators. It recalls the scene witnessed later at Venice in the Piazza of St Mark when, touched by the preaching of the great Dominican Savonarola, the Venetians of all ranks burned those things which had been for them occasions of sin. One huge bonfire consumed pictures, musical instruments, trinkets, and costly apparel.
before all. Better, “ in the sight of all ” (ἐνωπιον παντων).
fifty thousand pieces of silver. The word “ pieces ” is not found in the original. The Greeks spoke of “ 5000 of silver ” as we speak of £5000 a year, without designating the coin. If these pieces of silver were Attic drachmæ, worth about 93/4d. of our money, the value of the books was £2031 ; if we take it as referring to the Roman denarii, worth 81/2d., then the sum amounted to £1 770. This had had a greater purchasing value than our current money, and was a very large sum for these Ephesian converts to sacrifice, but they had no option if they desired to embrace Christianity seriously.
20. So mightily. (οἱτω κατα κρατος.) This phrase only occurs here in the New Testament, but it is frequently found in classical Greek, and signifies acting with all a man’s power and might.
Rackham remarks that this sentence “ is stamped with the characteristic of the work at Ephesus, viz. might or power. Thus in such decisive victories the kingdom of God was established in power : and the word of the Lord manifested with might continued to grow and prevail over all adversaries, visible and invisible.”
word of God. The best MSS. read “ of the Lord.”
21. when these things were ended. The Ephesian converts had given unequivocal proof of their sincerity, so St Paul judged that he could now leave them.
Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had, etc. St Paul proposed to visit his beloved churches of Macedonia in order to strengthen the disciples, and remedy a certain laxity of morals which disedified the church of Corinth. He also wished to receive their offerings for the poor brethren of Jerusalem, that he might convey them to the church, which he intended shortly to visit. The relief sent by the Gentile converts would help to incline the Jews of Judea more favourably towards them. In collecting these alms, St Paul was acting on the recommendation of the apostles (Gal. ii. 10).
I must see Rome. St Paul had long desired to visit the metropolis of the Roman empire. Cf. For I long to see you that I may impart unto you some spiritual grace, to strengthen you (Rom. i. 11).
He had doubtless heard of the church in Rome from St Peter, Aquila, Priscilla, and other members of that church. When St Paul did “see Rome " he was a prisoner for the cause of the Gospel.
22. that ministered. St Paul’s companions assisted him by preaching, administering baptism, and distributing the alms of the faithful.
Timothy. St Paul sent him to remedy certain disorders in the church of Corinth. Thus he writes to the Corinthians concerning Timothy’s visit : Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me, as 1 also am of Christ. For this cause I have sent to you Timothy, who is my dearest son and faithful in the Lord, who will put you in mind of my ways, which are in Christ Jesus: as I teach everywhere in every church (1 Cor. iv. 16-17). Now if Timothy come, see that he be with you without fear, for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do. Let no man therefore despise him, but conduct ye him on his way in peace : that he may come to me. For I look for him with the brethren (ibid. xvi. 10-11).
From these passages we see that St Paul had sent Timothy to Macedonia before writing to the Corinthians, hence he announces the visit, but expresses a doubt as to whether Timothy will reach them ; and also we note, as a further proof, that there are no greetings from Timothy in St Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians, and had he been with St Paul this act of courtesy would not have been omitted.
Totus tuus ego sum
Et omnia mea tua sunt;
Tecum semper tutus sum:
Ad Jesum per Mariam.
dd
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