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Selected Verse: Acts 19:13 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ac 19:13	Strong Concordance	Then [1161] certain [5100] of [575] the vagabond [4022] Jews [2453], exorcists [1845], took upon them [2021] to call [3687] over [1909] them which had [2192] evil [4190] spirits [4151] the name [3686] of the Lord [2962] Jesus [2424], saying [3004], We adjure [3726] you [5209] by Jesus [2424] whom [3739] Paul [3972] preacheth [2784].
	King James	Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
vagabond Jews--simply, "wandering Jews," who went from place to place practicing exorcism, or the art of conjuring evil spirits to depart out of the possessed. That such a power did exist, for some time at least, seems implied in Mat 12:27. But no doubt this would breed imposture; and the present case is very different from that referred to in Luk 9:49-50. We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth--a striking testimony to the power of Christ's name in Paul's mouth.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

vagabond Jews--simply, "wandering Jews," who went from place to place practicing exorcism, or the art of conjuring evil spirits to depart out of the possessed. That such a power did exist, for some time at least, seems implied in Mat 12:27. But no doubt this would breed imposture; and the present case is very different from that referred to in Luk 9:49-50.

We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth--a striking testimony to the power of Christ's name in Paul's mouth.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
The vagabond Jews - Greek: Jews going about - περιερχομένων perierchomenōn. The word "vagabond" with us is now commonly used in a bad sense, to denote "a vagrant; a man who has no home; an idle, worthless fellow." The word, however, properly means "one wandering from place to place, without any settled habitation, from whatever cause it may be." Here it denotes "those Jews who wandered from place to place, practicing exorcism." Exorcists - ἐξορκιστῶν exorkistōn. This word properly denotes "those who went about pretending to be able to expel evil spirits, or to cure diseases by charms, incantations," etc. The word is derived from ὁρκίζω horkizō, "to bind with an oath." It was applied in this sense, because those who pretended to be able to expel demons used the formula of an oath, or adjured them, to compel them to leave the possessed persons. Compare Mat 12:27. They commonly used the name of God, or called on the demons in the name of God to leave the person. Here they used the name Jesus to command them to come out. Such wanderers and pretenders are common in Oriental countries now. See Land and the Book, vol. i. 224, 510. To call over them - To name, or to use his name as sufficient to expel the evil spirit. The name of the Lord Jesus - The reasons why they attempted this were: (1) That Jesus had expelled many evil spirits; and, (2) That it was in his name that Paul had performed his miracles. Perhaps they supposed there was some charm in this name to expel them. We adjure you - We bind you by an oath; we command you as under the solemnity of an oath, Mar 5:7; Th1 5:27. It is a form of putting one under oath, Kg1 2:43; Gen 24:37; Kg2 11:4; Neh 13:25 (Septuagint). That this art was practiced then, or attempted, is abundantly proved from Irenaeus, Origen, and Josephus (Antiq., book 8, chapter 2, section 5). See Doddridge. The common name which was used was the incommunicable name of God, Yahweh, by pronouncing which, in a special way, it was pretended they had the power of expelling demons.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Vagabond (περιερχομένων) Lit., going about. Rev., strolling. Exorcists (ἐξορκιστῶν) Only here in New Testament. The kindred verb, adjure, occurs Mat 26:63, and means, originally, to administer an oath. These Jewish exorcists pretended to the power of casting out evil spirits by magical arts derived from Solomon.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Exorcists - Several of the Jews about this time pretended to a power of casting out devils, particularly by certain arts or charms, supposed to be derived from Solomon. Undertook to name - Vain undertaking! Satan laughs at all those who attempt to expel him either out of the bodies or the souls of men but by Divine faith. All the light of reason is nothing to the craft or strength of that subtle spirit. His craft cannot be known but by the Spirit of God nor can his strength be conquered but by the power of faith.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists - Τινες απο των περιερχομενων Ιουδαιων εξορκιϚων; Certain of the Jews who went about practicing exorcisms. Vagabond has a very bad acceptation among us; but, literally, vagabundus signifies a wanderer, one that has no settled place of abode. These, like all their countrymen, in all places, went about to get their bread in what way they could; making trial of every thing by which they could have the prospect of gain. Finding that Paul cast out demons through the name of Jesus, they thought, by using the same, they might produce the same effects; and, if they could, they knew it would be to them an ample source of revenue; for demoniacs abounded in the land.

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⁴⁹ And [1161] John [2491] answered [611] and said [2036], Master [1988], we saw [1492] one [5100] casting out [1544] devils [1140] in [1909] thy [4675] name [3686]; and [2532] we forbad [2967] him [846], because [3754] he followeth [190] not [3756] with [3326] us [2257].
⁵⁰ And [2532] Jesus [2424] said [2036] unto [4314] him [846], Forbid [2967] him not [3361]: for [1063] he [3739] that is [2076] not [3756] against [2596] us [2257] is [2076] for [5228] us [2257].

²⁷ And [2532] if [1487] I [1473] by [1722] Beelzebub [954] cast out [1544] devils [1140], by [1722] whom [5101] do your [5216] children [5207] cast them out [1544]? therefore [5124] [1223] they [846] shall be [2071] your [5216] judges [2923].

²⁵ And I contended [07378] with them, and cursed [07043] them, and smote [05221] certain [0582] of them, and plucked off their hair [04803], and made them swear [07650] by God [0430], saying, Ye shall not give [05414] your daughters [01323] unto their sons [01121], nor take [05375] their daughters [01323] unto your sons [01121], or for yourselves.

⁴ And the seventh [07637] year [08141] Jehoiada [03077] sent [07971] and fetched [03947] the rulers [08269] over hundreds [03967], with the captains [03746] and the guard [07323], and brought [0935] them to him into the house [01004] of the LORD [03068], and made [03772] a covenant [01285] with them, and took an oath [07650] of them in the house [01004] of the LORD [03068], and shewed [07200] them the king's [04428] son [01121].

³⁷ And my master [0113] made me swear [07650], saying [0559], Thou shalt not take [03947] a wife [0802] to my son [01121] of the daughters [01323] of the Canaanites [03669], in whose land [0776] I dwell [03427]:

⁴³ Why then hast thou not kept [08104] the oath [07621] of the LORD [03068], and the commandment [04687] that I have charged [06680] thee with?

²⁷ I charge [3726] you [5209] by the Lord [2962] that this epistle [1992] be read [314] unto all [3956] the holy [40] brethren [80].

⁷ And [2532] cried [2896] with a loud [3173] voice [5456], and said [2036], What [5101] have I [1698] to do [2532] with thee [4671], Jesus [2424], thou Son [5207] of the most high [5310] God [2316]? I adjure [3726] thee [4571] by God [2316], that thou torment [928] me [3165] not [3361].

⁶³ But [1161] Jesus [2424] held his peace [4623]. And [2532] the high priest [749] answered [611] and said [2036] unto him [846], I adjure [1844] thee [4571] by [2596] the living [2198] God [2316], that [2443] thou tell [2036] us [2254] whether [1487] thou [4771] be [1488] the Christ [5547], the Son [5207] of God [2316].