“Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to
invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I
adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” 14 Seven sons of a Jewish high
priest named Sceva were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit answered them,
“Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” 16 And the man in whom
was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all [4] of them and overpowered
them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.” (Acts 19:13-16 (ESV)
It’s always a gripping narration. The name of Jesus isn’t something
to be taken lightly. Every time I read this I think of the disciples telling
Jesus of the man casting out demons in his name, the man whom the disciples try
stop because he isn’t one of them. (Luke 9:49 ff) At the time, Jesus tells them
to let him continue because the one who is not against you is with you. But
that is the thing with the sons of Sceva, they try to usurp the name while not
trusting in Jesus, or being baptized or even listening to Paul. In all actuality
they are against Jesus. So the demon beats them, and over powers them. But in
this the sons of Sceva learn that the name of Christ is not something a person
can just use, but it has to be given.
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