CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Acts 19:14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/acts/19-14.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/7/44_Act_19_14.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Acts 19:14 - The Sons of Sceva" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/acts/19-14.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/acts/19-14.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/acts/">Acts</a> > <a href="/acts/19.htm">Chapter 19</a> > Verse 14</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad14.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/acts/19-13.htm" title="Acts 19:13">◄</a> Acts 19:14 <a href="/acts/19-15.htm" title="Acts 19:15">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/acts/19.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/acts/19.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/acts/19.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/acts/19.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/acts/19.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/acts/19.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />And seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were doing this.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/acts/19.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And there were seven sons of <i>one</i> Sceva, a Jew, <i>and</i> chief of the priests, which did so.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/acts/19.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/acts/19.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, doing this.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/acts/19.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/acts/19.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/acts/19.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Now seven sons of one <i>named</i> Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/acts/19.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Seven sons of one [named] Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/acts/19.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were doing this.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/acts/19.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/acts/19.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, a chief priest, who did this.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/acts/19.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Seven sons of a high priest named Sceva were doing this, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/acts/19.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, a chief priest, which did this.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/acts/19.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/acts/19.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Seven brothers, who were the sons of a Jewish High Priest named Sceva, were doing this. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/acts/19.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/acts/19.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/acts/19.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />(Now seven sons of a man named Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were doing this.)<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/acts/19.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />There were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did this.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/acts/19.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And there were seven sons of one Sceva a Jew, and chief of the priests, who did so.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/acts/19.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />There were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew of high-priestly family, who were doing this.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/acts/19.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />There were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did this. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/acts/19.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and there were certain—seven sons of Sceva, a Jew, a chief priest—who are doing this thing;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/acts/19.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />And seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were doing this.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/acts/19.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and there were certain -- seven sons of Sceva, a Jew, a chief priest -- who are doing this thing;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/acts/19.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And there were certain sons of Sceva, a Jew, chief priest, seven doing this.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/acts/19.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And there were certain men, seven sons of Sceva, a Jew, a chief priest, that did this. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/acts/19.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And there were certain Jews, the seven sons of Sceva, leaders among the priests, who were acting in this way.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/acts/19.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />When the seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish high priest, tried to do this,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/acts/19.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/acts/19.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And there were seven sons of one Sce’va, a Jew, and chief of the priests, who did this.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/acts/19.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />But there were seven sons of a man who was a Jew, a Chief Priest, whose name was Sqewa, who were doing this,<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/acts/19.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />And there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did this.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/acts/19.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />And there were certain seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish high priest, doing this.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/acts/19.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />And they were seven sons of Sceva a Jew, a chief priest, who did this.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/acts/19.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />these practitioners were seven in number, the sons of Sceva a Jew, one of the chief priests.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/acts/19.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />There were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew of high-priestly family, who were doing this.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/acts/19.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />Now there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish high priest, who did this.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/acts/19.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br />Now there were seven sons of <i>one</i> Sceva a Jewish priest, who did this.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/acts/19-14.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/in5WTRQ9BSQ?start=6314" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/acts/19.htm">The Sons of Sceva</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13</span>Now there were some itinerant Jewish exorcists who tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those with evil spirits. They would say, “I bind you by Jesus, whom Paul proclaims.” <span class="reftext">14</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: de (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc."></a> <a href="/greek/2033.htm" title="2033: hepta (Adj-NMP) -- Seven. A primary number; seven.">Seven</a> <a href="/greek/5207.htm" title="5207: huioi (N-NMP) -- A son, descendent. Apparently a primary word; a son, used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship.">sons</a> <a href="/greek/5100.htm" title="5100: tinos (IPro-GMS) -- Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object."></a> <a href="/greek/4630.htm" title="4630: Skeua (N-GMS) -- Sceva, an inhabitant of Ephesus. Apparently of Latin origin; left-handed; Scevas, an Israelite.">of Sceva,</a> <a href="/greek/2453.htm" title="2453: Ioudaiou (Adj-GMS) -- Jewish. From Iouda; Judaean, i.e. Belonging to Jehudah.">a Jewish</a> <a href="/greek/749.htm" title="749: archiereōs (N-GMS) -- High priest, chief priest. From arche and hiereus; the high-priest; by extension a chief priest.">chief priest,</a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: ēsan (V-IIA-3P) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">were</a> <a href="/greek/4160.htm" title="4160: poiountes (V-PPA-NMP) -- (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.">doing</a> <a href="/greek/3778.htm" title="3778: touto (DPro-ANS) -- This; he, she, it. ">this.</a> </span> <span class="reftext">15</span>Eventually, one of the evil spirits answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/12-27.htm">Matthew 12:27</a></span><br />And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/11-19.htm">Luke 11:19</a></span><br />And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/9-38.htm">Mark 9:38-39</a></span><br />John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone else driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not accompany us.” / “Do not stop him,” Jesus replied. “For no one who performs a miracle in My name can turn around and speak evil of Me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/16-16.htm">Acts 16:16-18</a></span><br />One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of divination, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling. / This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!” / She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit left her at that very moment.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/8-9.htm">Acts 8:9-13</a></span><br />Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great, / and all the people, from the least to the greatest, heeded his words and said, “This man is the divine power called the Great Power.” / They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/28-7.htm">1 Samuel 28:7-8</a></span><br />Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I can go and consult her.” “There is a medium at Endor,” his servants replied. / So Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes, and he set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said, “Consult a spirit for me. Bring up for me the one I name.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/17-17.htm">2 Kings 17:17</a></span><br />They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire and practiced divination and soothsaying. They devoted themselves to doing evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/21-6.htm">2 Kings 21:6</a></span><br />He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/19-31.htm">Leviticus 19:31</a></span><br />You must not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out, or you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/18-10.htm">Deuteronomy 18:10-12</a></span><br />Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, / casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead. / For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD. And because of these detestable things, the LORD your God is driving out the nations before you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/8-19.htm">Isaiah 8:19</a></span><br />When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists who whisper and mutter, shouldn’t a people consult their God instead? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/19-3.htm">Isaiah 19:3</a></span><br />Then the spirit of the Egyptians will be emptied out from among them, and I will frustrate their plans, so that they will resort to idols and spirits of the dead, to mediums and spiritists.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/27-9.htm">Jeremiah 27:9</a></span><br />But as for you, do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your interpreters of dreams, your mediums, or your sorcerers who declare, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/13-6.htm">Ezekiel 13:6-9</a></span><br />They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ when the LORD did not send them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message. / Haven’t you seen a false vision and spoken a lying divination when you proclaim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ even though I have not spoken? / Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Because you have uttered vain words and seen false visions, I am against you, declares the Lord GOD. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zechariah/10-2.htm">Zechariah 10:2</a></span><br />For idols speak deceit and diviners see illusions; they tell false dreams and offer empty comfort. Therefore the people wander like sheep, oppressed for lack of a shepherd.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/acts/18-17.htm">Chief</a> <a href="/acts/18-8.htm">Family</a> <a href="/acts/17-12.htm">High</a> <a href="/acts/4-6.htm">High-Priestly</a> <a href="/acts/18-24.htm">Jew</a> <a href="/acts/19-13.htm">Jewish</a> <a href="/acts/14-13.htm">Priest</a> <a href="/acts/9-21.htm">Priests</a> <a href="/acts/13-19.htm">Seven</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/acts/19-31.htm">Chief</a> <a href="/romans/1-3.htm">Family</a> <a href="/acts/19-17.htm">High</a> <a href="/acts/4-6.htm">High-Priestly</a> <a href="/acts/19-34.htm">Jew</a> <a href="/acts/21-28.htm">Jewish</a> <a href="/acts/22-5.htm">Priest</a> <a href="/acts/22-30.htm">Priests</a> <a href="/acts/20-6.htm">Seven</a><div class="vheading2">Acts 19</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/acts/19-1.htm">The Holy Spirit is given by Paul's hands.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/acts/19-8.htm">The Jews blaspheme his doctrine, which is confirmed by miracles.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/acts/19-13.htm">The Jewish exorcists,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">16. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/acts/19-16.htm">are beaten by a man who had an evil spirit.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">19. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/acts/19-19.htm">Conjuring books are burnt.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">21. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/acts/19-21.htm">Demetrius, for love of gain, raises an uproar against Paul;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">35. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/acts/19-35.htm">which is appeased by the town clerk.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/acts/19.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/acts/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/acts/19.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Seven sons of Sceva</b><br>The mention of "seven sons" indicates a complete or perfect number in biblical terms, often symbolizing fullness or completeness. Sceva is identified as a Jewish chief priest, though there is no historical record of a chief priest by this name, suggesting he may have been a self-proclaimed leader or part of a lesser-known priestly family. The sons' actions reflect a common practice in the ancient world where exorcism and magical practices were prevalent, especially in Ephesus, a city known for its interest in magic and the occult.<p><b>a Jewish chief priest</b><br>The title "chief priest" suggests a position of religious authority within the Jewish community. However, the lack of historical evidence for Sceva as a recognized chief priest raises questions about his legitimacy. This highlights the tension between genuine spiritual authority and self-appointed positions. The Jewish context is significant, as it shows the intersection of Jewish religious practices with the surrounding Greco-Roman culture, which often included syncretism and the blending of religious traditions.<p><b>were doing this</b><br>The phrase "were doing this" refers to the practice of attempting to invoke the name of Jesus to perform exorcisms, as described in the preceding verses. This action underscores the growing reputation of Jesus' name and the power associated with it, even among those outside the Christian faith. The sons of Sceva's attempt to use Jesus' name without a true relationship with Him serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of using spiritual power for personal gain or without genuine faith. This incident also contrasts with the authentic miracles performed by Paul, emphasizing the importance of true faith and divine authority.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/s/seven_sons_of_sceva.htm">Seven Sons of Sceva</a></b><br>These were Jewish exorcists who attempted to invoke the name of Jesus to cast out evil spirits. They are notable for their lack of genuine faith and understanding of Jesus' power.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/s/sceva.htm">Sceva</a></b><br>Described as a Jewish chief priest, though not much else is known about him. His sons' actions suggest a superficial understanding of spiritual authority.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/e/ephesus.htm">Ephesus</a></b><br>The city where these events took place. Ephesus was a major center of commerce and religion, known for its temple to Artemis and a hub for various spiritual practices.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/e/evil_spirits.htm">Evil Spirits</a></b><br>The spiritual entities that the sons of Sceva attempted to exorcise. Their response to the sons highlights the necessity of true faith and authority in Christ.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/p/paul.htm">Paul</a></b><br>Although not directly mentioned in this verse, Paul’s successful ministry in Ephesus provides a stark contrast to the failed attempts of the sons of Sceva.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/a/authority_in_christ.htm">Authority in Christ</a></b><br>True spiritual authority comes from a personal relationship with Jesus, not merely invoking His name. Believers must ensure their faith is genuine and rooted in Christ.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_presumption.htm">The Danger of Presumption</a></b><br>The sons of Sceva presumed they could wield spiritual power without true faith. This serves as a warning against superficial or second-hand faith.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_warfare.htm">Spiritual Warfare</a></b><br>Engaging in spiritual warfare requires discernment and reliance on the Holy Spirit. Believers should be equipped with the full armor of God (<a href="/ephesians/6-10.htm">Ephesians 6:10-18</a>).<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_jesus'_name.htm">The Power of Jesus' Name</a></b><br>The name of Jesus is powerful, but it must be used with reverence and understanding. Believers should seek to know Him deeply and personally.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/w/witnessing_to_others.htm">Witnessing to Others</a></b><br>Our actions and words should reflect a true understanding of Christ's power and authority, serving as a testimony to others.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_acts_19.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Acts 19</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_were_the_seven_sons_of_sceva.htm">Who were the seven sons of Sceva?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_day_14_teach_in_journey.htm">What events transpired during the crucifixion of Jesus?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_acts_19_13-16's_sceva_story_credible.htm">In Acts 19:13-16, what evidence supports or undermines the historical accuracy of the dramatic encounter where the evil spirit attacks the sons of Sceva?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_jesus'_descent_mean.htm">What does 'ablution' mean in the Bible?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/acts/19.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(14) <span class= "bld">Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief</span> <span class= "bld">of</span> <span class= "bld">the priests.</span>--Better, <span class= "ital">a Jewish chief priest.</span> The word might mean that he was at the head of one of the twenty-four courses into which the priests of the Temple were divided. (See Notes on <a href="/matthew/21-15.htm" title="And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were sore displeased,">Matthew 21:15</a>; <a href="/luke/3-2.htm" title="Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.">Luke 3:2</a>.) It is hardly probable, however, that one in that position would have taken to this disreputable calling, and it seems more likely that the title itself was part of the imposture. He called himself a chief priest, and as such St. Luke, or Tyrannus, described him. The scene is brought vividly before us. The seven exorcists, relying partly, we may believe, in the mystical virtue of their number, stand face to face with a demoniac, frenzied and strong like the Gadarene of <a href="/matthew/8-28.htm" title="And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.">Matthew 8:28</a>; <a href="/context/mark/5-3.htm" title="Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:">Mark 5:3-4</a>.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/acts/19.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 14.</span> - A <span class="accented">chief priest</span> for <span class="accented">and chief of the priests</span>, A.V.; <span class="accented">this</span> for <span class="accented">so</span>, A.V. <span class="cmt_word">A chief priest</span> (<span class="greek">ἀρχιερεύς</span>); not, of course, in the sense of <span class="accented">high priest</span>, but in that wider sense of the word which comprised the chiefs of the twenty-four courses and the members of the Sanhedrim and all who had ever been high priests or who were of the kindred of the high priest (see <a href="/matthew/2-4.htm">Matthew 2:4</a>; <a href="/matthew/16-21.htm">Matthew 16:21</a>; <a href="/matthew/21-15.htm">Matthew 21:15</a>; 23:45, etc.; <a href="/luke/9-22.htm">Luke 9:22</a>; <a href="/luke/19-47.htm">Luke 19:47</a>, etc.; <a href="/acts/4-23.htm">Acts 4:23</a>; <a href="/acts/5-24.htm">Acts 5:24</a>; <a href="/acts/9-14.htm">Acts 9:14, 21</a>, etc.). It is probable that the Eleazar mentioned in the preceding note was a priest, both from his name and because Josephus calls him one of his <span class="greek">ὁμοφύλων</span>, which may mean "fellow-tribesmen." The name <span class="accented">Sceca</span> occurs nowhere else, nor is its meaning or etymology at all certain. Some identify it with the Latin <span class="accented">Scaera</span> (Horace, 'Ep.,' 1. 17:1), "left-handed," <span class="accented">l</span>.<span class="accented">q. Scaevola</span>; or the Greek <span class="accented">Scenes</span>, a proper name in Appian. Simonis gives it an Aramean etymology. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/acts/19-14.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">Seven</span><br /><span class="grk">ἑπτὰ</span> <span class="translit">(hepta)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2033.htm">Strong's 2033: </a> </span><span class="str2">Seven. A primary number; seven.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">sons</span><br /><span class="grk">υἱοὶ</span> <span class="translit">(huioi)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_5207.htm">Strong's 5207: </a> </span><span class="str2">A son, descendent. Apparently a primary word; a 'son', used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Sceva,</span><br /><span class="grk">Σκευᾶ</span> <span class="translit">(Skeua)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4630.htm">Strong's 4630: </a> </span><span class="str2">Sceva, an inhabitant of Ephesus. Apparently of Latin origin; left-handed; Scevas, an Israelite.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a Jewish</span><br /><span class="grk">Ἰουδαίου</span> <span class="translit">(Ioudaiou)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2453.htm">Strong's 2453: </a> </span><span class="str2">Jewish. From Iouda; Judaean, i.e. Belonging to Jehudah.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">chief priest,</span><br /><span class="grk">ἀρχιερέως</span> <span class="translit">(archiereōs)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_749.htm">Strong's 749: </a> </span><span class="str2">High priest, chief priest. From arche and hiereus; the high-priest; by extension a chief priest.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">were</span><br /><span class="grk">ἦσαν</span> <span class="translit">(ēsan)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> </span><span class="str2">I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">doing</span><br /><span class="grk">ποιοῦντες</span> <span class="translit">(poiountes)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4160.htm">Strong's 4160: </a> </span><span class="str2">(a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">this.</span><br /><span class="grk">τοῦτο</span> <span class="translit">(touto)</span><br /><span class="parse">Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3778.htm">Strong's 3778: </a> </span><span class="str2">This; he, she, it. </span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/acts/19-14.htm">Acts 19:14 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/acts/19-14.htm">Acts 19:14 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/acts/19-14.htm">Acts 19:14 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/acts/19-14.htm">Acts 19:14 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/acts/19-14.htm">Acts 19:14 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/acts/19-14.htm">Acts 19:14 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/acts/19-14.htm">Acts 19:14 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/acts/19-14.htm">Acts 19:14 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/acts/19-14.htm">Acts 19:14 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/acts/19-14.htm">Acts 19:14 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/acts/19-14.htm">NT Apostles: Acts 19:14 There were seven sons of one Sceva (Acts of the Apostles Ac) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/acts/19-13.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Acts 19:13"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Acts 19:13" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/acts/19-15.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Acts 19:15"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Acts 19:15" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>