ESOCS Devotional 12 July 2025 – Magical Tricks in Jesus Name: Beware
MEMORY VERSE: “Some Jews who travelled around and drove out evil spirits also tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus to do this. They said to the evil spirits, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches.’” Acts 19:13 GNB
TEXT: ACTS 19:13-34
Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.
15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”
16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. 19 Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.
21 When these things were accomplished, 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 also see Rome.” 22 So he sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, but he himself stayed in Asia for a time.
23 And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way. 24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no small profit to the craftsmen. 25 He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: “Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade. 26 Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands. 27 So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship.”
28 Now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” 29 So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s travel companions. 30 And when Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples would not allow him. 31 Then some of the officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him pleading that he would not venture into the theater. 32 Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together. 33 And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander motioned with his hand, and wanted to make his defense to the people. 34 But when they found out that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about two hours, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”
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In Mark 16:17-18, the Lord promised His disciples that powerful miraculous signs will manifest through their ministry, and would also follow those who believe through them. They would speak in new tongues, as well as cast out demonic forces. Sick people shall recover, as they laid hands on them, and much more.
As Paul was teaching in Ephesus, God allowed special miracles to be worked through his hands (Acts 19:11; 14:3). Even handkerchiefs and aprons which had been brought into contact with Paul’s body turned into healing agents, (2 Corinthians 12:12). These were no magical tricks, as some would tend to think. The power was from God through Paul. Evil spirits left those in whom they indwelt (see Matthew 4:24). God allowed these special miracles following the promises of Mark 16:17. In the same vein, God used this opportunity to produce a confrontation between true supernatural powers and the deceptive works of sorcerers and necromancers (Isaiah 47:12-13).
In our text, the seven sons Sceva met with disgraceful embarrassment when they tried to trickily involve the name of Jesus in order to lend credence to their magical trickeries. Child of God, beware of the false prophets who profess to be ministers of the Lord. Do not be deceived, nor allow yourself to be contaminated with their nefarious and/or evil practices. Jesus is Lord forever.
CHALLENGES
- In recent times, many magicians and native doctors have turned their practices into Christian ministries. Are you aware?
PRAYER POINT
- Lord Jesus, give me the grace and wisdom to know the difference.
FURTHER READING: Daniel 11:1-13; 11:14-31; Acts 19:33-41
ESOCS Devotional 12 July 2025
