Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?


Some itinerant Jews practiced exorcisms as their profession. They went from city to city pretending to cure people possessed with demons with some rituals.

They presumptuously thought they could simply use “the name of the Jesus that Paul was preaching.”

Amazingly it never occurred to them to seek to know the “Jesus that Paul was preaching.” They didn’t want to know Jesus but they wanted to use His power.

“Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.”
Acts 19:13 NKJV

Some seven sons of Sceva also began to do same.

“Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.”
Acts 19:14 NKJV

The sons of Sceva were emboldened by two things.

• Some of their fellow exorcists were doing it. Apparently, their fellow exorcists were getting away with it because so far there had been no reports of anything negative happening to any other exorcists. Many people are bold to do things, simply because others are doing it and they appear to be getting away with it.

• These seven exorcists were the sons of a chief priest. They thought they could ride on their father’s position to intrude into areas beyond their level.
Jesus testified that Satan’s kingdom operates in order.

“Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?”
Matthew 12:25b-26 NKJV

Satan’s kingdom operates in ranks and  Satan’s demons know those that are authorized to give them orders.

“And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”
Acts 19:15 NKJV

The demons also know, those who are not authorized. They knew these seven sons of Sceva were not authorized.

May you be clearly marked for kingdom exploits.
May every agent of hell, submit to your kingdom authority. 
May you represent God’s kingdom with excellence, in Jesus’s name.

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