Acts 19:11-20
ACTS STUDY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What caught your attention in our study of Acts 19:11-20?
Based on Acts 19:11, who is performing the miracles in Acts 19:11-20? With Paul, we see that the miracles recounted in Acts 19:11-12 are not mechanical incantations soliciting some distant divine power. They are evidence of God’s presence in Ephesus and in Paul’s life. They overflow from Paul’s personal relationship with Jesus Christ. What statements in the text indicate this?
How do the Jewish exorcists stand in contrast to Paul? In Acts 19:13, some of the “Jewish exorcists” say, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims?” What does that statement reveal about Paul? What does that statement reveal about the Jewish exorcists?
If the mere shadow of Peter heals sickness (cf Acts 5:15) and evil spirits must bow before the garments of Paul, what does that say about the power of God that abides within them? What five things happen when the residents of Ephesus realize God’s power and the name of Jesus is superior to their magic tricks (cf. Acts 19:17-19)? Who gets the glory? What are they confessing by their actions? What do their actions teach us about repentance (cf Acts 19:19b)?
In Acts 19:15, the evil spirit said to the seven sons of Sceva, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” Just like the “disciples” Paul encountered in Acts 19:1-4, there was not enough evidence to convict the seven sons of Sceva of being intimately related to Jesus. How is the evil spirit’s statement convicting? What evidence should be present in those who have been redeemed and are true disciples of Jesus?
What happened to the sons of Sceva when they tried to claim Jesus’ name, though they had not submitted their lives to him? What does their nakedness indicate? What can we learn from this?
What serves as bookends to our text in Acts 19:10 and 19:20? What does that tell us about the importance of God’s word embraced, learned, and proclaimed? Though it took day in and day out year after year faithful obedience, Acts 19:11-20 shows us that the gospel is the power of God to save, and it can, does, and will bear fruit even if not seen immediately. What can we take away from this for our own lives?
What are your key takeaways from our study of Acts 19:11-20? Are there any attitudes, actions, or affections that need to change as a result of studying this text?
