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The Scam of the Seven Sons
by David Newton (David's bio)
In the world we live in today, it is all but impossible to watch an evening news broadcast without seeing the report of yet another scheme, scam, or fraud, being perpetrated by some wiley con-artist somewhere. People in every country on the planet are being bilked out of their hard earned money at any given time of the day or night. The con-job, or scam, was not created or invented by the criminal of today. Many methods of separating gullible people from their money have been around for centuries. In the book of Acts, chapter 19, there is an account of a scam that didn't quite work out for seven con-artist brothers who were working the people of Ephesus, sometime between 63 A.D. and 70 A.D.
Before we get to the actual scam, I think a little bit of background information is in order. The Apostle Paul had been in Ephesus for just over two years. For the first three months there, he had been speaking boldly in the synagogue, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God (Acts 19: 8). For the next couple of years, he had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. It is written that all of the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord (Acts 19: 9,10). God was doing extraordinary miracles through Paul at that time. Extraordinary to the extent that even hankerchiefs and aprons that had touched Paul were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them (Acts 19: 11,12).
Ephesus, at that time, was a center for magical incantations, spells, sorcery, black magic, etc. This would surely be the perfect environment for those who made their living perpetrating scams and frauds on others who might be willing to part with a buck or two. Well, I can just imagine that there were many con-artists who had witnessed the power of God being displayed through Paul. I'm sure that some of these con-artists figured that if Paul could cast out evil spirits, or demons, in the Name of Jesus, then perhaps they could do it too, and maybe make a few bucks for doing it. Do you see the scam taking shape here?
Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the Name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon possessed. They would say, "In the Name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out" (Acts 19:13). Now get this, these guys didn't even know Jesus, which meant that they most probably didn't believe Him to be the Son of God. All they knew was that Paul preached Jesus, and that he was able to cast out demons in the Name of Jesus. I'm wondering here if they were actually ignorant of the fact that it was the power of God, and the Name of Jesus, that enabled Paul to cast out demons. Now the scam comes into full swing.
There was at this time a Jewish chief priest named Sceva. Through the research I have done on this guy, all that I have found is that he MAY have been related to the high priestly family of Jerusalem. But more likely he took the title of chief priest himself to make further impression with his magical wiles. Sceva had seven sons who were going around Ephesus driving out evil spirits while trying to invoke the Name of Jesus. Drawn by Paul's ability to cast out demons, the seven sons of Sceva set out to copy his work, and probably bilk some people out of as much as they might be willing to spend to have their demon exorcized.
Please allow me to stop here for just a minute to entertain my somewhat wild imagination. When I was just a kid, I can remember the Barnum and Bailey Bigtop Circus coming to town. P.T. Barnum was the greatest showman on earth, and his circus carried with it the title of "The Greatest Show On Earth". For a couple of weeks before the circus actually came to town, there were flyers and bills posted on just about every telephone pole in town, in just about every store window in town, and there were television commercial advertisements on each and every channel announcing the impending event. The day before the circus opened for business, there was a massive parade down the main street of the city. There were fanfares blowing in the wind, horns blaring, clowns everywhere, lions, tigers elephants, freaks, geeks, and all of the things that make up a circus, marching before us in a mystical, magical, awe inspiring spectacle. Here is where my imagination comes into play. I can just imagine the same type of entrance into Ephesus being made by the seven sons of Sceva. Of course, I don't have any proof of it being this way with these guys, but they were refered to in the book of Acts only as "seven sons of Sceva", and to me, that says CIRCUS. I can hear it now...
"Ladies and gentlemen, and kids of all ages. Step inside and see the Seven Sons Of Sceva Show. They will cast out your small demons, your large demons, your thin demons, your fat demons, your malicious demons, and demons of all types and ages. All for the low, low price of only five drachmas!"
Thanks for indulging me folks, I feel much better now and I promise not to get off track again. So, the seven sons of Sceva were in the house of a man, trying to cast out a demon, saying, "In the Name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out". The evil spirit answered them saying, "Jesus I know, and I know Paul, but who are you?" Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding (Acts 19: 15,16).
I know that this account isn't meant to be funny, but each time I read it, I can't help but chuckle. "HA, busted! You guys don't even know Jesus, and here you are trying to pull off a scam using His Name. Well, let me teach you a thing or two". (This is how I see the demon reacting to the seven sons of Sceva just prior to giving them the whipping of their lives). Now I've been in a few brawls in the past, but I have never seen ONE guy put such a whipping on SEVEN guys that they ran naked and bleeding. It must have been quite a sight, and definitely worth the price of admission.
I would sincerely doubt that the seven sons of Sceva were in the business of casting out demons after that day. The real message in this chapter of Acts is actually given to us after the account of the scam, the confrontation, the beating, and the running away of the seven naked and bloody sons of Sceva. After news of this incident spread to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, the fear of God came upon them, and the Name of Jesus was held in high honor (Acts 19:17). Many who now believed, came and openly confessed their evil deeds. Many who had practiced sorcery and witchcraft brought together their scrolls of incantations, spells, and magical formulas, and burned them publicly. The value of the scrolls was calculated to be somewhere around fifty thousand drachmas. In this way the word of the Lord Jesus Christ spread widely and grew in power (Acts 19: 18-20).
It never ceases to amaze me how God took the scam of the seven sons of Sceva, and turned it around for His glory. This should be a lesson to all con-artists everywhere. It's one thing to pull off a scam, but you better think twice before trying to pull off a scam using the Name of Jesus.
Copyright 2001, David Newton. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.
| About David Newton: I am an ex-convict, an ex-drug addict, an ex-alcoholic, and an ex-all around bad guy. I am considered by many to be one of God's modern day miracles. You see, God accepted me as I was, and transformed me into a new creation. I have a strong, abiding love for God, and I will serve and worship Him, through Jesus, until I breath my last breath. I cannot begin to repay God for all that He has done for me. The only thing I have to give to God is my life. I live my life continuously surrendered to Jesus. Jesus is Lord of my life, my household, my wife and my six children. All to Him I owe. E-mail David |