Acts 19:18-19
Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse highlights that true belief isn't just about what you think, but what you do. The "confessing and divulging their practices" shows that these new believers actively brought their past wrongdoings into the light, demonstrating a profound shift that involved more than just mental assent. It's a powerful picture of repentance involving a willingness to expose the hidden parts of their lives.
Following the dramatic failure of the sons of Sceva to cast out a demon using Jesus' name, many who had previously believed in Ephesus were deeply moved. This event prompted them, out of genuine conviction and a desire to fully embrace their new faith, to openly confess their past wrongdoings and reveal the secret practices they had engaged in.
We often hear about believing the Gospel, but what happens after belief takes root? This verse shows us a powerful response that goes beyond just nodding along.
The text says "many that believed came..."
More Than a Mental Ascent
This isn't just about intellectual agreement. The Greek word for "believed" here can encompass the whole process of conversion, including baptism and commitment. These weren't people who just heard the message; they had embraced it. They had crossed a threshold into a new way of life.
Actions Speak Louder
Their belief led them to action: "confessing and divulging their practices." This wasn't a passive response. It was active, intentional, and deeply personal. They didn't just believe in something; they believed it was powerful enough to change everything, including the hidden things they had done.
Imagine the courage it takes to bring your deepest secrets into the light. This verse describes a radical act of honesty that had profound consequences.
The phrase "confessing and divulging their practices" is striking.
A Public Reckoning
The original language suggests an open declaration, not a whispered secret. These weren't just vague regrets; they were specific, tangible "practices" – likely referring to the magic arts and sorcery so prevalent in Ephesus at that time. Bringing these into the open was a powerful renunciation of their former lives.
The Burden of Sin
Confession and revelation are described as a relief, a way to shed the weight of past deeds. It was an act of obedience and a crucial step in solidifying their newfound faith, demonstrating that they were truly freed from the dominion of sin and the powers they once served.
Understand the original words
pisteuō · Greek Noun
One who has placed saving faith in Jesus Christ; a person who has turned from sin to trust in the Gospel.
exomologeō · Greek Verb
To acknowledge or declare openly, often involving the admission of past sins or hidden activities; it is a vital part of repentance and reconciliation with God.
periergos · Greek Noun phrase
Occult, sorcery, or forbidden spiritual practices that attempt to control or manipulate spiritual powers outside of reliance on God.
The powerful spiritual awakening in Ephesus, where converts publicly confessed and abandoned their former practices, occurred against the backdrop of a city deeply entrenched in both Roman imperial power and ancient pagan traditions, including widespread magic.
c. 49 BC
Roman Civil War Begins
The Roman Republic plunged into civil war between Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great. This period of instability and conflict would reshape Roman governance and its eastern provinces.
c. 41-30 BC
Second Triumvirate and Subsequent Conflicts
Following Caesar's assassination, a tense alliance known as the Second Triumvirate emerged, leading to further civil wars and ultimately the rise of Octavian (Augustus). The eastern Mediterranean, including Ephesus, experienced significant political upheaval.
27 BC - AD 14
Reign of Emperor Augustus
Augustus established the Roman Empire, bringing a period of relative peace (Pax Romana) after decades of civil war. Ephesus flourished as a major administrative and commercial center in the province of Asia.
c. AD 52-55— this verse
Paul's Ministry in Ephesus
The Apostle Paul spent a significant period ministering in Ephesus, a vibrant and cosmopolitan city known for its temple to Artemis and its widespread practice of magic and sorcery.
This passage describes people confessing their sins to John the Baptist, paralleling the Ephesian believers' public admission of their past deeds as a sign of their repentance.
Romans 10:10This verse connects confession of faith in the heart with outward declaration, similar to how the Ephesian believers' confession was a public act following their newfound belief.
Joshua 24:14-15This Old Testament passage calls the Israelites to choose whom they will serve and to put away foreign gods, mirroring the Ephesian believers' decisive break from their former practices, including magic.
1 John 1:9This verse provides the basis for confession, assuring forgiveness when sins are acknowledged, which is the underlying principle for the believers in Ephesus openly revealing their past actions.
Proverbs 28:13This proverb directly states that whoever conceals their sins will not prosper but whoever confesses and forsakes them will find mercy, echoing the Ephesian believers' actions as a path to true freedom.
ellicottActs 19:18: "And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds."
(18) And many that believed. —More accurately, many of those that had believed. The word is probably used, as in Acts 19:2 , for the whole process of conversion, including baptism, confession in this instance following on that rite, instead of preceding it. The words do not definitely state whether the confession was made privately to St. Paul and the other teachers, or publicly in the presence of the congregation…
pulpitActs 19:18: "And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds."
Verse 18. - Many also of them that had believed for and many that believed, A.V.; confessing and declaring for and confessed and showed, A.V. Many also of them that had believed. This and the following verse speak of that class of converts who had previously been addicted to magic arts. It gives us a curious view of the extent to which magic prevailed among the Jews at this time. Nor was it less prevalent in heath…
This verse highlights that true belief isn't just about what you think, but what you do. The "confessing and divulging their practices" shows that these new believers actively brought their past wrongdoings into the light, demonstrating a profound shift that involved more than just mental assent. It's a powerful picture of repentance involving a willingness to expose the hidden parts of their lives.
Following the dramatic failure of the sons of Sceva to cast out a demon using Jesus' name, many who had previously believed in Ephesus were deeply moved. This event prompted them, out of genuine conviction and a desire to fully embrace their new faith, to openly confess their past wrongdoings and reveal the secret practices they had engaged in.
Following the dramatic failure of the sons of Sceva to cast out a demon using Jesus' name, many who had previously believed in Ephesus were deeply moved. This event prompted them, out of genuine conviction and a desire to fully embrace their new faith, to openly confess their past wrongdoings and reveal the secret practices they had engaged in.
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c. AD 55
Riot of the Silversmiths
Demophilus, a silversmith, incited a riot against Paul and his companions because their preaching threatened the trade of selling idols of Artemis. This event highlights the entrenched paganism and economic interests in Ephesus.
c. AD 60-62
Paul's Imprisonment and Letters
While imprisoned, likely in Rome, Paul wrote epistles, including Ephesians. This period reflects on the church's spiritual warfare and the practical implications of faith within a pagan society.
"Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of th…" — This verse highlights that true belief isn't just about what you think, but what you do. The "confessing and divulging their practices" shows that these new believers actively brought their past…
