The sons of Sceva had been watching Paul. They'd seen the miracles, heard the name of Jesus produce results their own incantations couldn't match. So they tried to add Jesus to their formula. “I command you by the Jesus that Paul preaches.” That secondhand wording told the whole story. The demon's response is one of the most memorable lines in Acts: “I know Jesus, and I recognize Paul, but who are you?” Then the demon-possessed man beat all seven of them so badly they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. Word spread across the city. Believers who'd been hedging their bets came forward to confess. They burned scrolls of magic worth fifty thousand pieces of silver, roughly 150 years of wages. Repentance that costs nothing changes nothing. The name of Jesus can't be borrowed. It has to be believed.
What is Acts Daily Devotional Podcast?
What if the story of the early church isn’t just history, but a blueprint for following Jesus today? The Acts Daily Devotional Podcast is a 141-day journey through the book of Acts in the Bible, hosted by Pastor Derek. Each short episode combines Scripture and practical teaching to help inspire your daily chair time with God, whether at home or on your drive to work. Starting April 26, discover how the Holy Spirit empowers ordinary people to advance the mission of Jesus from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.