The Sons of Sceva #Fiction based on Acts 19 [Part 2]

Part Two: fan #fiction based in part on Acts 19: 13-17 (the Sons of Sceva)

Though shocking, a stark reality hit the Sons of Sceva: for once, their fakery brought out the evil spirit! (it worked?)

The room suddenly turned a purplish hue, and the swirling wind normally felt in the arid lands outside Ephesus blew their robes and threw sand in their eyes.

Regaining their vision, confused and fearful, they heard a voice; high-pitched but sonorant, with a demonic richness not quite ear-splitting yet resoundingly clear. It was the evil spirit speaking directly to them, breathing fire like a dragon.

As the air of life sucked out of the room, all seven brothers froze in attention looking at the man they were trying to heal. Restored and vigorous, but trance-like, the man’s lips didn’t move; although he was definitely the source of the sound. In their lives together on the road as a merry band of grifters, never had they focused so realistically, so fearfully, on a single voice such as that which roared from this demon.

Unfortunately, their father the Jewish high priest did not convince them of the prohibition in the Torah about using false gods for evil purposes, as they had done often around the major coastal city of Ephesus [see Part 1—posted 09/23/2012]. During these alarming few moments, to their dread, an evil spirit addressed them with a mysterious and omnipotent capacity that made these experienced hustlers rapt like little bare-bottomed toddlers.

“Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” (Acts 19:15)

There were no “eyes” fixed upon them but it seemed as if the evil spirit was looking right through the Sons of Sceva. After dancing around a serious spiritual war for which they were not prepared, now they found themselves in the middle of the battle. One of the ghostly warriors took notice of them in a very condescending way: “And, who the hell are you?” Don’t send a boy to do a man’s job, goes the saying; even more, don’t claim heavenly authority against evil forces as a scheme to take innocent, desperate people’s money. Bad choices make bad outcomes.

Many in Ephesus marveled at Paul’s ministry, even tried to replicate the miracles he (and Jesus) worked in their midst, but the power and sovereignty of God will not be mocked or counterfeited. Indeed, without the blessing of God’s grace on our work, we are impostors. Without God’s divine intervention in our lives, we are rudderless boats adrift on a hostile ocean.

Eyes like saucers, confounded and silent, the pitiful brothers made no reaction or even a whimper; yet they reaped the whirlwind of the evil justice they were due. Breaking through into the realm of spiritual warfare is difficult. Ignorance suggests they would not have started down this road knowing what they had joined.

In an instant the man inhabited by the evil spirit leaped upon them, seemingly with enough arms to wrangle all seven brothers. This “being” was an entity not quite human, with an ephemeral quality, translucent and sparkling as it whirled around like a tornado. The storm overcame the room, as it was powerful enough to carry the whole house away from its foundation. The fight lasted but a couple of minutes, although it inflicted significant damage on the Sons of Sceva.

The men fled out of the house without skill or strength, escaping with their lives alone, by grace alone. Cut, bruised and beaten, they ran blindly through the streets as fast as their legs would carry them. The ignoble defeat included the fact that they fled naked, the height of embarrassment in this culture. Far from being an incident of humor or derision, the whole city heard about what happened with the evil spirit and these "honorable" criminals, and Jews and Greeks alike were aghast. It says in Acts 19: 17 that because of this provocative incident in Ephesus, the name of Jesus Christ was celebrated, or “extolled.”

Common in biblical literature, especially in Luke's book of Acts, God tells His story in an unconventional way. Ironically, the typical exorcism reversed here; turned upside down in the surreal context of spiritual warfare. In what appears to be an interlude in the constant spiritual battle about which we know so little; the evil spirit purged the exorcists, and not the other way around.

©Mark H. Pillsbury

The Sons of Sceva (Acts 19) #Fiction (Part 1)

“I’m not ashamed of standing before you with only the Gospel; it is the power of salvation for all of us,” Paul said it simply, “the righteous will live by faith, not by works.”

The apostle Paul from Tarsus, in present-day Turkey, was hand-picked by Jesus to travel the Roman Empire, proclaiming the good news of Christ. Once a merciless persecutor of the early church, Paul became one of the most influential men in history, and certainly the greatest Christian author ever to write.

Ephesus, a major Roman coastal city, part of western Asia Minor (now Turkey), was established over 500 years before Christ. Greek to its core, it hosted the chief shrine of Artemis, the Library of Celsus and its theater, which was capable of holding 25,000 spectators. Although once a prominent commercial hub, Ephesus was destroyed by the Goths in 263 AD.

Paul worked miracles in Ephesus, baptizing and laying on hands; he even found a few stray disciples who’d never heard of the Holy Spirit.

“Into what exactly were you baptized?” Paul said incredulously. Patiently Paul walked them through their response; they thought they were washed by John’s baptism.

They were eager to hear from the mystical teacher, “you don’t understand what John meant; he always pointed the way to Jesus,” he instructed, “remember how John said ‘the kingdom is at hand’ reminding everyone he was not worthy to untie Jesus’ sandals.” “John the Baptist made it very clear he was speaking about Jesus.”

Paul further implored, “it’s more than baptism, it’s about repentance,” it did not take very long to explain how big was the difference; eventually agreeing, they were baptized in Jesus’ name.

Paul's journeys

As part of Paul’s ministry team these disciples followed him to the synagogue and also when he taught at the Tyrannus Ephesian School. He preached in this region for a long time, converting many, doing extraordinary deeds. His third journey led him back to Ephesus; indeed it was so successful that any clothes or aprons Paul touched became talismans. Sometimes even a touch from something Paul once held was enough to authentically heal sickness or cast out evil. It was an astonishing time in Ephesus.

Never spoken of as “Exorcism,” these practices were common in this superstitious age; however, only Christian apostles were sent by Jesus to proclaim the gospel, heal the sick, cast out demons, and raise the dead. In fact, Jesus reminded them that they received this power from him (Gospel account of Matthew, chapter 10:8), “without paying a price,” so he required they likewise serve without pay.

But in this culture as with many others, money was the lifeblood of commerce, even in the spiritual arts. It was in this environment that certain disreputable scoundrels took advantage of the phenomenal ministry of Paul.

The Sons of Sceva

Vagabond Jews tried their hand at exorcism by imitating what they’d heard about Paul’s miraculous ways. One particular cadre of fakers was known as the “Sons of Sceva,” and Luke reports this interesting story occurring in Ephesus; NT book of Acts, chapter 19. These young men toured around Ephesus together as a merry band of thieves, buoyed by their audacity and trading on the credibility that came with their “religious” heritage. Their father was a Jewish high-priest, raising them in the synagogue; so naturally, they carried themselves with a counterfeit holiness, conjuring respect and misplaced trust in their victims. They said a lot, without meaning any of it. Classic fraud, but it was profitable.

“Holy men do not convey the power vested in them for an hourly wage,” they piously pronounced. “We require sincere support in order to maintain this important ministry; so if we are able to help your family in their time of need, won’t you sacrifice for our sake?” These investors did not know enough to recognize the healers as bogus; they failed to investigate the authority upon which these brothers did business. Pressing further, digging deeper into their well of guilt; the Sons of Sceva drew out funds by appealing to multiple levels of narcissism.

“Don’t you want to heal your father? Would not that make you the wisest of his offspring, the one most likely to win his favor?” “If you want the best of God’s forces to visit your house, then you must invest the best of your resources to make it happen.” They never guaranteed success, but implied it by reciting a fantastic track record of healing and casting out demons. Just like Paul did it; they promised.

Requiring immediate compensation up-front, these Scevian schemers reminded customers that sometimes “holy release” would come after the caravan’s departure. They were powerful but it was a mystery how God worked with them, although often contributions ratcheted upward the more serious the problem; embellishment ballooning with imbursement.

Acts 19:13

“I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims,” was pronounced over the possessed man; clearly invoking His name yet without the divine authority of Christ. It was like trying to get into a concert without a ticket, but it was a very profitable gig for the sons of Sceva. (end of Part I)

©Mark H. Pillsbury