Year 7, Day 252: Acts 19

Theological Commentary: Click Here

The standard themes of Acts continue.  Paul goes out and does mission.  He starts making disciples.  People get upset.  Trouble comes to Paul’s doorstep.  There really is a pattern of behavior here.  When you speak truth, you are going to upset the status quo and bring trouble upon yourself.  It’s just reality.

That being said, I’d really like to focus on the sons of Sceva.  I find this story really amusing.  First of all, remember that it is primarily the Jews who bring trouble upon Paul wherever he goes.  Yet in this particular story, there are some Jews who decide to imitate Paul.  They start using the name of Jesus.  Isn’t it interesting that people who don’t like you and what you stand for will still imitate you when your methods prove successful!

The second neat point is that the name of Jesus works.  When these Jews start using the name of Jesus, even the demons take notice!  This is important because it reminds us where true power resides.  When God uses me to do something neat, it isn’t me that deserves the credit!  Neat things happen through me because God decides to use me.  It is His decision, His plan, and His power.  His name is far more powerful than anything I can bring to the table.

That being said, the third really neat thing about which we can take notice is that while the name is powerful, it won’t necessarily save us without the relationship with God behind it.  The demons know the name and respect it.  They don’t however, know the sons of Sceva.  They do know that these sons of Sceva have little relationship – if any – with Christ.  The demons tear into these sons of Sceva because the relationship with God is not genuine.

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