Friday, September 29, 2023  

---

Today’s Scripture Reading 
Acts 19:11–20

God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that when the handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, their diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them. Then some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, ‘I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.’ Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit said to them in reply, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?’ Then the man with the evil spirit leapt on them, mastered them all, and so overpowered them that they fled out of the house naked and wounded. When this became known to all residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, everyone was awestruck; and the name of the Lord Jesus was praised. Also many of those who became believers confessed and disclosed their practices. A number of those who practiced magic collected their books and burned them publicly; when the value of these books was calculated, it was found to come to fifty thousand silver coins. So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed. (NRSV)

---

Reflection
Throughout this passage, I am struck by this concept of identity. It begins with God doing extraordinary miracles through Paul and even through the handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin. Not only is Paul a conduit of God’s power, but so is the fabric that has come into contact with Paul. We then see these seven sons of Sceva attempting to exorcise demons from a man by invoking the power of “the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” It would make sense, right? If these handkerchiefs and aprons can cast out evil spirits, then why could they not do the same if they do so in the name of Jesus?

But the evil spirit sees through them because the evil spirit knows Jesus and Paul — the evil spirit recognizes believers. When word of this evil spirit overpowering these seven exorcists spreads through Ephesus, everyone, both Jews and Greeks, has solid proof of the power of God. This is such a definitive show of power that those who identify as believers but who also practice magic are so moved that they confess and disclose their practices and publicly burn their books.

I find some comfort in this passage, specifically in the believers who grapple with both their faith and their practice of magic as they are navigating who they are and what they believe in a world full of demons and evil spirits. Reading this assures me that it is OK for me to also have those doubts as I navigate my own world and explore my identity as a believer in Jesus.

---

Prayer
Lord, as I navigate this world and my identity, may all that I do and say still direct others back to you. Amen.

---

Written by Katrina Buchanan, Editorial Associate

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

Devotion index by date | I’d like to receive daily devotions by email