Sceva is a figure mentioned in the New Testament, specifically in the Acts of the Apostles. He is described as a Jewish chief priest, although there is no record of him serving in the official capacity of high priest in Jerusalem. His account is primarily associated with an incident involving his seven sons, who attempted to perform exorcisms in the name of Jesus Christ.

Biblical Account

The account of Sceva and his sons is found in Acts 19:13-16. The passage describes how certain itinerant Jewish exorcists, including the seven sons of Sceva, attempted to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "I adjure you by Jesus, whom Paul proclaims." However, their attempt to use the name of Jesus without a true understanding or relationship with Him led to a dramatic and humbling encounter.

The evil spirit responded to them, saying, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" (Acts 19:15). The man possessed by the evil spirit then overpowered the sons of Sceva, leaving them wounded and fleeing from the house naked. This event became widely known in Ephesus, leading to a greater reverence for the name of Jesus and a widespread renunciation of magical practices.

Historical and Cultural Context

Sceva's designation as a "chief priest" has led to some debate among scholars, as there is no historical record of a high priest named Sceva. It is possible that he was a member of a priestly family or held a position of religious authority within a local synagogue. The practice of exorcism was not uncommon in Jewish tradition, and various methods and incantations were employed to cast out demons.

The incident with Sceva's sons highlights the early Christian understanding of spiritual authority. The name of Jesus was not to be used as a magical formula but was effective only through genuine faith and relationship with Christ. This event underscores the power and authority of Jesus' name, recognized even by evil spirits, and the importance of authentic faith in spiritual matters.

Theological Significance

The account of Sceva and his sons serves as a cautionary tale about the misuse of spiritual authority and the dangers of attempting to wield divine power without true faith. It illustrates the reality of spiritual warfare and the recognition of Jesus' authority by both believers and the spiritual realm. The incident also contributed to the spread of the Gospel in Ephesus, as it led many to abandon their reliance on magic and turn to the living God.

The account emphasizes the necessity of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ for effective ministry and spiritual victory. It serves as a reminder that the power of God cannot be manipulated or controlled by human means but is accessed through faith and obedience to His will.Sceva

disposed; prepared

Sceva

a Jew residing at Ephesus at the time of St. Paul's second visit to that town. (Acts 19:14-16) (A.D. 52.)

Sceva

A Jew at Ephesus, a leader among the priests, perhaps the head of one of the twenty-four courses. His seven sons pretended to practice exorcism, and presumed to call on evil spirits to come out from persons possessed, in the name of Jesus. Their ignominious discomfiture by a man possessed by and evil spirit, promoted the cause of the gospel at Ephesus, Acts 19:14-16.

An implement, a Jew, chief of the priests at Ephesus (Acts 19:13-16); i.e., the head of one of the twenty-four courses of the house of Levi. He had seven sons, who "took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus," in imitation of Paul. They tried their method of exorcism on a fierce demoniac, and failed. His answer to them was to this effect (19:15): "The Jesus whom you invoke is One whose authority I acknowledge; and the Paul whom you name I recognize to be a servant or messenger of God; but what sort of men are ye who have been empowered to act as you do by neither?" (Lindsay on the Acts of the Apostles.) SCEVA

se'-va (Skeua): A Jew, a chief priest, resident in Ephesus, whose seven sons were exorcists (Acts 19:14). Ewald regards the name as being Hebrew shekhabhyah. He was not an officiating priest, as there were only synagogues in Asia Minor. He may have belonged to a high-priestly family, or perhaps at one time he had been at the head of one of the 24 courses in the temple.

In the narrative the construction is loose. There were seven sons (Acts 19:14), and it would appear (Acts 19:16) that in this particular case all were present. But (Acts 19:16) the demon-possessed man over-powered "both of them." Textus Receptus of the New Testament gets over the difficulty by omitting "both," but Codices Sinaiticus, Alexandrinus, Vaticanus, Bezae, so Tischendorf, Westcott and Hort, von Soden, and the best critics, retain the difficult reading. The explanation is that Acts 19:14 states the custom: "who did this" being hoi touto poiountes, "who used to do this." Acts 19:15 and 16 state a particular case in which two took part, but the incident is introduced in a careless manner.

Ewald would translate amphoteron as "in both sides," but this is impossible. Baur understood "disciples" for "sons." Codex Bezae and Syriac have an interesting expansion which Blass considers original (Acts 19:14): "Among whom also the sons (Syriac `seven') of a certain Sceva, a priest, wished to do the same, (who) were in the custom of exorcising such. And entering into the demon-possessed man they began to call upon the Name, saying, `We charge you by Jesus whom Paul preaches to come out.' "

S. F. Hunter

4630. Skeuas -- Sceva, a Jewish chief priest
... Sceva, a Jewish chief priest. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: Skeuas
Phonetic Spelling: (skyoo-as') Short Definition: Sceva Definition: Sceva ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4630.htm - 6k

"Is the Spirit of the Lord Straitened?"
... You will fail, like the seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, who tried to cast out devils:
the devils do not know you; they would know Jesus; they would know the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/is the spirit of the.htm

The Exorcists. Acts 19:13-16
... Acts 19:13-16. Then the apostle wonders wrought,. And healed the sick, in Jesus'
name; The sons of Sceva vainly thought. That they had pow'r to do the fame. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 124 the exorcists acts.htm

An Exposition of the Chapters of the Acts of the Apostles.
... Of the sons of Sceva, and as to its not being meet to approach [1381] those who
have become unbelieving and unworthy of the faith; and of the confession of ...
/.../pamphilus/the writings of pamphilus/an exposition of the chapters.htm

Letter viii. To Demophilus, Therapeutes. About Minding Ones Own ...
... And the demons fastened on the sons of Sceva, and He says, "I did not send them,
yet they ran, and I spake not to them yet they prophesied [115] ." "And the ...
/.../letters of dionysius the areopagite/letter viii to demophilus therapeutes.htm

On the Diversity of Spiritual Gifts.
... when he had corrupted Israel by Baal-peor, suffered punishment; [3576] and Caiaphas
at last was his own murderer; and the sons of Sceva, endeavouring to cast ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec i on the diversity of.htm

Acts XIX
... the Jesus whom Paul preaches. (14) And they were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish
high priest, who did this. (15) But the wicked spirit ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xix.htm

Ephesus
... wrought by him, "took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name
of the Lord Jesus." An attempt was made by "seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 27 ephesus.htm

Acts xix. 8, 9
... "By Jesus, whom Paul preacheth." Only see what a name Paul had got! "And there were
seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xli acts xix 8.htm

The Unclean Spirits.
... Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew,
and chief of the priests, who did so. And the evil spirit ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the unclean spirits.htm

The Last Events in Galilee - the Tribute-Money, the Dispute by the ...
... dispute by the way - or else must be grounded on evidence that the motive was, or
the effect would ultimately be (as in the case of the sons of Sceva) to lead ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter iii the last events.htm

Sceva (1 Occurrence)
...SCEVA. se'-va (Skeua): A Jew, a chief priest, resident in Ephesus, whose seven sons
were exorcists (Acts 19:14). ... Multi-Version Concordance Sceva (1 Occurrence). ...
/s/sceva.htm - 9k

Adjuration (2 Occurrences)
... horkizo) as when the man with an unclean spirit appealed to Jesus: "I adjure thee
by God, torment me not" (Mark 5:7); or seven sons of Sceva, exorcists, sought ...
/a/adjuration.htm - 10k

Schedule (1 Occurrence)

/s/schedule.htm - 6k

Sceptres (1 Occurrence)

/s/sceptres.htm - 6k

Jew (34 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Acts 19:14 There were seven
sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did this. ...
/j/jew.htm - 22k

Jewish (49 Occurrences)
... DBY NAS RSV). Acts 19:14 There were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief
priest, who did this. (WEB DBY NAS RSV NIV). Acts 21:28 ...
/j/jewish.htm - 22k

Seven (404 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Acts 19:14 There were seven
sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did this. ...
/s/seven.htm - 42k

High-priestly (2 Occurrences)
... family. (WEY NAS RSV). Acts 19:14 There were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew
of high-priestly family, who were doing this. (WEY). High ...
/h/high-priestly.htm - 7k

Number (2370 Occurrences)
... the 7 demons cast out of Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9 parallel Luke 8:2); the 7 ministers
in the church at Jerusalem (Acts 6:3), and the 7 sons of Sceva (Acts 19 ...
/n/number.htm - 40k

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