Acts 19:13

Of the strolling Jews, exorcists (twn periercomenwn Ioudaiwn exorkistwn). These exorcists travelled around (peri) from place to place like modern Gypsy fortune-tellers. The Jews were especially addicted to such practices with spells of sorcery connected with the name of Solomon (Josephus, Ant. VIII. 2.5). See also Tobit 8:1-3. Jesus alludes to those in Palestine ( Matthew 12:27 ; Luke 11:19 ). The exorcists were originally those who administered an oath (from exorkizw, to exact an oath), then to use an oath as a spell or charm. Only instance here in the N.T. These men regarded Paul as one of their own number just as Simon Magus treated Simon Peter. Only here these exorcists paid Paul the compliment of imitation instead of offering money as Magus did. To name over (onomazein epi). They heard what Paul said and treated his words as a magic charm or spell to drive the evil spirits out. I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth (Horkizw uma ton Ihsoun on Paulo khrussei). Note two accusatives with the verb of swearing (cf. Mark 5:7 ) as a causative verb (Robertson, Grammar, p. 483). The papyri furnish numerous instances of orkizw in such constructions (Deissmann, Bible Studies, p. 281). Note also the article with Jesus, "the Jesus," as if to identify the magic word to the demons with the addition "whom Paul preaches." They thought that success turned on the correct use of the magical formula. The Ephesian mysteries included Christianity, so they supposed.