The Acts of the Apostles (1911) — PDF Scan 293

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EPHESU^ 287 miracles by the liands of Paul: so that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them/' These manifestations of supernatural power were far more potent than had ever before been witnessed in Ephesus, and were of such a character that they could not be imitated by the skill of the juggler or the enchantments of the sorcerer. As these miracles were wrought in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, the people had opportunity to see that the God of heaven was more powerful than the magicians who were worshipers of the goddess Diana. Thus the Lord exalted His servant, even before the idolaters themselves, immeasurably above the most powerful and favored of the magicians. But the One to whom all the spirits of evil are subject, and who had given His servants authority over them, was about to bring still greater shame and defeat upon those who despised and profaned His holy name. Sorcery had been prohibited by the Mosaic law, on pain of death, yet from time to time it had been secretly practised by apostate Jews. At the time of Paul's visit to Ephesus, there were in the city ^'certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists," who, seeing the wonders wrought by him, ^^took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the •name of the Lord Jesus." An attempt was made by ''seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests." Finding a man possessed with a demon, they addressed him, ''We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth." But "the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who 19 — Acts