11 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them. 13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. (Acts 19:11–16, NIV)
This slightly amusing incident of false exorcists being stripped by a demonised man raises a challenging question for us.
The fake exorcists invoked, “the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches.” The response:
- “Jesus I know.” This is to be expected. Since the arrival of God the Son made flesh, the hosts of hell have been shaken. Jesus defeated the devil in the wilderness, he repeatedly cast out demons, on the cross he made a punk spectacle of the powers of darkness, and he destroyed death through his glorious resurrection. So, the demons would know Jesus.
- “Paul I know about.” The demon is aware of Paul, too. Paul has a reputation among the demons. How can that be? At this point Paul has been around the Middle East and parts of Europe. Multitudes have been brought out of darkness into God’s marvellous light. Demons have been cast out, the sick have been healed, and religious systems that bound people have been shaken. No wonder the demons knew about Paul.
I wonder if they know about me and you? Is hell remotely troubled by modern day evangelicalism? Are our prayers and our witness snatching people from the devil’s clutches?
It’s certainly something worth pondering.
The best is yet to come 