What Old Testament examples parallel the confessions seen in Acts 19:18? Setting the Scene in Acts 19:18 “Many who had believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds.” (Acts 19:18) The Ephesian believers did three things: • They stepped into the light. • They spoke out loud what they had been hiding. • They decisively broke with their former practices (v. 19). These actions echo a long line of Old Testament moments where God’s people publicly admitted their sin and renounced it. Old Testament Parallels to Public Confession • Numbers 5:6-7 – Required Confession and Restitution “...that person is guilty and must confess the sin he has committed. He shall make full restitution...” The Law itself built confession into daily life—sin had to be owned out loud before God and neighbor. • Joshua 7:19-26 – Achan’s Admission “Give glory to the LORD... Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.” (v. 19) Achan’s stolen items are exposed, named, and destroyed, much like the burning of magic scrolls in Ephesus. • 1 Samuel 7:5-6 – National Repentance at Mizpah “They fasted that day, and there they said, ‘We have sinned against the LORD.’” The entire assembly confesses aloud, coupling words with fasting and renewed allegiance. • 2 Samuel 12:13 – David’s Personal Confession “I have sinned against the LORD.” When confronted by Nathan, David does not hide—he states his guilt plainly and receives mercy. • 2 Kings 23:1-15 – Josiah’s Reform “The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant... And he burned the Asherah pole...” Hearing the rediscovered Law leads to covenant renewal and the physical destruction of idolatrous objects, paralleling the costly bonfire in Acts 19:19. • Ezra 10:1-12 – Weeping and Confession over Mixed Marriages “A very large assembly... wept bitterly and confessed their sin.” The people publicly acknowledge wrongdoing and commit to radical corrective action. • Nehemiah 9:1-3 – Corporate Confession after the Wall “They stood... and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.” Scripture is read for a quarter of the day, confession for another quarter—word and response are inseparable. • Daniel 9:4-19 – Prophetic Prayer of Confession “We have sinned and done wrong... turning aside from Your commandments.” Daniel voices a national confession, identifying with the people’s guilt though personally righteous. • Jonah 3:5-10 – Nineveh’s Sackcloth and Cry “The Ninevites believed God... From the greatest of them to the least...” Even Gentiles model open, city-wide confession followed by tangible repentance. Shared Threads across the Testaments • God’s Word confronts sin first; confession is the Spirit-prompted response. • True confession is public, specific, and often costly (burned scrolls, destroyed idols, restitution). • Confession is never an end in itself; it ushers in renewal—revival in Judges, victories in Samuel, reform under kings, and gospel expansion in Acts. Living It Out Today The pattern is clear: when God’s truth exposes darkness, His people speak, surrender, and sever ties with the old life. The same Lord who welcomed Israel back at Mizpah and Josiah’s Jerusalem now welcomes believers who step forward like those in Ephesus—voices raised, sins named, idols burned, hearts made new. |
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