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The Truth About Angels
the God of heaven was more powerful than the magicians who were
worshipers of the goddess Diana. Thus the Lord exalted His servant,
even before the idolaters themselves, immeasurably above the most
powerful and favored of the magicians.
But the One to whom all the spirits of evil are subject and who
had given His servants authority over them, was about to bring still
greater shame and defeat upon those who despised and profaned His
holy name. Sorcery had been prohibited by the Mosaic law, on pain of
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death, yet from time to time it had been secretly practiced by apostate
Jews. At the time of Paul’s visit to Ephesus, there were in the city
“certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists,” who, seeing the wonders
wrought by him [Paul], “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, and chief of the priests.” Finding a
man possessed with a demon, they addressed him, “We adjure you by
Jesus whom Paul preacheth.” But “the evil spirit answered and said,
Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom
the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed
against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”
...
Facts which had previously been concealed were now brought to
light. In accepting Christianity some of the believers had not fully
renounced their superstitions. To some extent they still continued the
practice of magic. Now, convinced of their error, “many that believed
came, and confessed, and showed their deeds.” Even to some of the
sorcerers themselves the good work extended; and “many of them also
which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them
before all men.” ...
These treatises on divination contained rules and forms of com-
munication with evil spirits. They were the regulations of the worship
of Satan—directions for soliciting his help and obtaining information
from him.—
The Acts of the Apostles, 286-289
.
A report of the speech of Demetrius was rapidly circulated. The
uproar was terrific. The whole city [of Ephesus] seemed in commo-
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tion. An immense crowd soon collected, and a rush was made to the
workshop of Aquila, in the Jewish quarters, with the object of securing
Paul. In their insane rage they were ready to tear him in pieces. But
the apostle was not to be found. His brethren, receiving an intimation