“And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them” (19:11,12). A most amazing text! And one that needs to be handled carefully. The report is a descriptive report, that is, a report of what happened, rather than a prescriptive one, which tells us what we should do or expect. Luke does not say that we should, based on this report, then use handkerchiefs and aprons in this manner, only that in this instance, it happened thusly. This is quite an unexpected and remarkable report, and one that reminds me that God is able to surprise us with the extraordinary and even supernatural.
The seven sons of Sceva misinterpreted this event, thinking that they could simply articulate the words “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims” (19:13). The possessed man jumped on them and beat the mess out of them. The name “Jesus” is not a verbal magic formula, which can be used to conjure up spells or perform miracles simply by its articulation. An important cautionary word here.
The story continues: the riot in Ephesus, but many coming to faith; the plot against Paul in Greece; Eutychus falling asleep while Paul preached, falling to his death, and ; raised from the dead; Paul's farewell address to the Ephesian elders; and Paul finally making it back to Jerusalem and reporting in James' house all that God had done; and then, Paul’s arrest in Jerusalem. Let the people fight against Paul and his gospel. Let the authorities throw him in jail. Let riots break out. Opposition everywhere! And yet, the gospel moves forward. Like Paul, we have a charge to keep.
A charge to keep I have,
a God to glorify,
a never-dying soul to save,
and fit it for the sky.
To serve the present age,
my calling to fulfill,
O may it all my pow’rs engage
to do my Master's will! --Charles Wesley (1762)
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