The Seven Sons of Sceva • Sunday Service

The Seven Sons of Sceva • Sunday Service

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The story of the seven sons of Sceva is a powerful reminder of the authority we have in Christ and the importance of having a genuine relationship with Him. This account, found in Acts 19, offers believers several lessons about spiritual authority, the dangers of imitation without faith, and the power that resides in the name of Jesus when used properly.

The Story: Acts 19:11-20 (NKJV)

Acts 19:11-12 (NKJV)

“Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits went out of them.”

Commentary: Paul’s ministry in Ephesus was marked by extraordinary miracles, as God moved mightily through him. The emphasis here is that these miracles were God’s work through Paul—an important distinction. It’s a reminder that miraculous works flow from God’s authority, not human effort. It’s also a testament to the power of God’s Spirit working through a yielded vessel.*

Acts 19:13 (NKJV)

“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.’”

Commentary: These Jewish exorcists, including the seven sons of Sceva, saw the power displayed through Paul’s ministry and thought they could imitate it without truly knowing Jesus. They used Jesus’ name like a magic formula, unaware that spiritual authority cannot be borrowed or mimicked. This serves as a warning against using the name of Jesus superficially or without a true connection to Him.*

Acts 19:14-16 (NKJV)

“Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?’ Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”

The evil spirit recognized the authority of Jesus and the legitimacy of Paul’s ministry, but the sons of Sceva had no real relationship with Christ. As a result, they were overpowered by the very force they sought to command. This demonstrates that the spiritual realm recognizes true authority, and without a genuine relationship with Christ, we lack the power to stand against evil. It also highlights the danger of engaging in spiritual matters without being properly equipped or covered by the blood of Jesus.*

What Can We Learn as Believers?

1. Authority Comes From Christ

Matthew 28:18 (NKJV)

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.’”

2. A Genuine Relationship with Christ is Essential

John 15:5 (NKJV)

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

3. Demons Recognize True Authority

James 2:19 (NKJV)

“You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!”

4. Imitation Without Relationship Leads to Defeat

Ephesians 6:10-11 (NKJV)

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

5. Spiritual Authority Requires Submission to God

James 4:7 (NKJV)

“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

6. True Power is Found in the Name of Jesus

Philippians 2:9-10 (NKJV)

“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth.”

7. Fear of the Lord and Revival Follow True Power

Acts 19:17-18 (NKJV)

“This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds.”

8. God’s Power Cannot be Manipulated

Acts 8:18-20 (NKJV)

“And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’ But Peter said to him, ‘Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!’”

The story of the seven sons of Sceva teaches us that spiritual authority comes from a genuine relationship with Jesus, not from imitation or superficial use of His name. As believers, we must be rooted in Christ, submitted to His authority, and clothed in the armor of God to stand against the enemy. We cannot wield spiritual power without true faith and alignment with God’s will. The authority we carry in Christ is real and powerful, but it is only effective when we operate within the bounds of our relationship with Him and in submission to His Spirit.