And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, who did so.
All Commentaries on Acts 19:14 Go To Acts 19
John Chrysostom
AD 407
See the villany of the men! They still continued to be Jews, while wishing to make a gain of that Name. All that they did was for glory and profit. (g) Look, in every case, how men are converted not so much in consequence of good things as of things fearful. In the case of Sapphira, fear fell upon the Church, and men dared not join themselves to them: here they received handkerchiefs and aprons, and were healed: and after this, then they came confessing their sins. (Hereby) the power of the demons is shown to be a great one, when it is against unbelievers. For why did he not say, Who is Jesus? He was afraid, lest he also should suffer punishment; but, that it might be permitted him to take revenge upon those who mocked him, he did this; Jesus, says he, I know, etc. He was in dread of Paul. For why did not those wretched men say to him, We believe? How much more splendid an appearance they would have made had they said this, that is, if they had claimed Him as their Master? But instead of that, they spoke even those senseless words, By Jesus, whom Paul preaches. Do you mark the forbearance (of the writer), how he writes history and does not call names? This makes the Apostles admirable. And the evil spirit, etc.
