Today's reading allows us to see more clearly another aspect of spiritual life that is extremely important to us. It is about the incident with certain Jewish exorcists. Of course, the situation these people found themselves in was far from ordinary. But in it, as in a drop of water, was reflected that which...
Today's reading allows us to see more clearly another aspect of spiritual life that is extremely important to us. It is about the incident with certain Jewish exorcists (19:13-16). Of course, the situation these people found themselves in was far from ordinary. But in it, as in a drop of water, was reflected that which concerns everyone, regardless of whether one has to deal with the possessed or not. As can be seen, the exorcists mentioned by Luke decided to use the name of "Jesus, Whom Paul preaches". Most likely, they had only heard of both Paul and Jesus, not knowing either of them personally. But they may have seen with their own eyes that, to use modern language, the method works. And, apparently, they decided to reproduce what Paul was doing. The result, judging by the evangelist's testimony, turned out to be sad and, it seems, unexpected for the experimenters themselves. They probably counted on the mere mention of the name of Jesus working, but, obviously, nothing of the sort happened.
At first glance it might seem that this is about an attempt to use the name of Jesus as the most ordinary magical incantation. But things were hardly that simple, because it was still a matter of believing Jews, of Judeans who knew all too well about the prohibition imposed by the Torah on everything somehow connected with magic and corresponding practices. Perhaps it would be more correct to see in what happened a practice quite common in the Jewish milieu during the Gospel era of casting out demons through the invocation of the name of God. There also existed certain prayer formulas which, it was believed, allowed one to achieve the desired result with a greater degree of probability. Most likely, the exorcists mentioned in the story decided that Paul too uses some special, secret prayers to cast out demons from the possessed, allowing him to achieve success where others suffer defeat.
Not knowing the essence of Christianity as a teaching about the resurrected Messiah and about the messianic Kingdom entering the world, they seem to have taken it for some new method of exorcism. And they were severely put to shame: for the deliverance of the possessed from the power of dark forces through Paul's prayers happened not because his prayers were somehow special, but because he himself lived the life of the Kingdom, to which others also joined through his prayers.
Christianity is not a spiritual or prayerful practice that gives its adherents some special abilities or reveals to them some secrets of the universe inaccessible to the uninitiated. It is simply life in the Kingdom. A life that can and should be accepted, and, having been accepted, shared with others.
18
18:24 An eloquent man, mighty in the Scriptures - Of the Old Testament. Every talent may be of use in the kingdom of God, if joined with the knowledge of the Scriptures and fervour of spirit.
18:25 This man had been instructed - Though not perfectly, in the way of the Lord - In the doctrine of Christ. Knowing only the baptism of John - Only what John taught those whom he baptized, namely, to repent and believe in a Messiah shortly to appear.
18:26 He spake - Privately; and taught publicly. Probably he returned to live at Alexandria, soon after he had been baptized by John; and so had no opportunity of being fully acquainted with the doctrines of the Gospel, as delivered by Christ and his apostles. And explained to him the way of God more perfectly - He who knows Christ, is able to instruct even those that are mighty in the Scriptures.
18:27 Who greatly helped through grace - It is through grace only that any gift of any one is profitable to another. Them that had believed - Apollos did not plant, but water. This was the peculiar gift which he had received. And he was better able to convince the Jews, than to convert the heathens.
19
19:1 Having passed through - Galatia and Phrygia, which were termed the upper parts of Asia Minor. Certain disciples - Who had been formerly baptized by John the Baptist, and since imperfectly instructed in Christianity.
19:2 Have ye received the Holy Ghost? - The extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, as well as his sanctifying graces? We have not so much as heard - Whether there be any such gifts.
19:3 Into what were ye baptized - Into what dispensation? To the sealing of what doctrine? Into John's baptism - We were baptized by John and believe what he taught.
19:4 John baptized - That is, the whole baptism and preaching of John pointed at Christ. After this John is mentioned no more in the New Testament. Here he gives way to Christ altogether.
19:5 And hearing this, they were baptized - By some other. Paul only laid his hands upon them. They were baptized - They were baptized twice; but not with the same baptism. John did not administer that baptism which Christ afterward commanded, that is, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
19:9 The way - The Christian way of worshipping God. He departed - Leaving them their synagogue to themselves. Discoursing daily - Not on the Sabbath only, in the school of one Tyrannus - Which wedo not find was any otherwise consecrated, than by preaching the Gospel there.
19:10 All who desired it among the inhabitants of the proconsular Asia, now heard the word: St. Paul had been forbidden to preach it in Asia before, Act 16:6. But now the time was come.
19:11 Special miracles - Wrought in a very uncommon manner.
19:12 Evil spirits - Who also occasioned many of those diseases, which yet might appear to be purely natural.
19:13 Exorcists - Several of the Jews about this time pretended to a power of casting out devils, particularly by certain arts or charms, supposed to be derived from Solomon. Undertook to name - Vain undertaking! Satan laughs at all those who attempt toexpel him either out of the bodies or the souls of men but by Divine faith. All the light of reason is nothing to the craft or strength of that subtle spirit. His craft cannot be known but by the Spirit of God nor can his strength be conquered but by the power of faith.
19:17 And the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified - So that even the malice of the devil wrought for the furtherance of the Gospel.
19:18 Many came confessing - Of their own accord, and openly declaring their deeds - The efficacy of God's word, penetrating the inmost recesses of their soul, wrought that free and open confession to which perhaps even torments would not have compelled them.
19:19 Curious arts - Magical arts, to which that soft appellation was given by those who practised them. Ephesus was peculiarly famous for these. And as these practices were of so much reputation there, it is no wonder the books which taught them should bear a great price. Bringing their books together - As it were by common consent, burnt them - Which was far better than selling them, even though the money had been given to the poor.Fifty thousand pieces of silver - If these pieces of silver be taken for Jewish shekels, the sum will amount to six thousand two hundred and fifty pounds.
19:20 So powerfully did the word of God grow - In extent, and prevail - In power and efficacy.
19:21 After these things were ended - Paul sought not to rest, but pressed on, as if he had yet done nothing. He is already possessed of Ephesus and Asia. He purposes for Macedonia and Achaia. He has his eye upon Jerusalem, then upon Rome; afterward on Spain, Rom 15:28. No Cesar, no Alexander the Great, no other hero, comes up to the magnanimity of this little Benjamite. Faith and love to God and man had enlarged his heart, even as the sand of the sea.