The Meaning of Acts 19:16 Explained

Acts 19:16

KJV: 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.

YLT: And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaping upon them, and having overcome them, prevailed against them, so that naked and wounded they did flee out of that house,

Darby: And the man in whom the wicked spirit was leaped upon them, and having mastered both, prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

ASV: And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and mastered both of them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Acts 19:16 Mean?

Study Notes

overcame The sons of Sceva sought to imitate a power to which they were strangers, only to their own confusion. This striking witness from another side caused fear to fall on all.
prevailed , Luke 11:21 ; Luke 11:22 ; 1 John 4:4 .

Context Summary

Acts 19:13-29 - The Power Of Jesus' Name
Where God's spirit is mightily at work, Satan is not far away. Here the enemy's emissaries were mean enough to use the name of Jesus to get themselves a few more shekels. But the name is useless apart from the living power of the Spirit. It is terrible when the very demons flout those who profess religion. Who are ye? meant, "You do not count." The demons knew Christ as the Holy One of God and Paul as His representative, but these exorcist Jews were hollow as sounding brass. Cast into the balances, they were altogether lighter than vanity, Psalms 62:9.
The outcome of all this was a mighty revival. The name of the Lord Jesus was magnified, and a searching work of grace led to the confession of sin and the cleansing of heart and life in many who had followed vain superstitions.
So deep was the work of God in that great city of Ephesus that the trade in charms and amulets, sold in the neighborhood of the temple, began to fall off. The crowd of worshippers in Diana's temple was also perceptibly less. People who came in from the seaboard would find their way to the Apostle, who preached the gospel with a power that could not be withstood. Regenerated souls therefore, in turn, carried the gospel throughout the whole region. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 19

1  The Holy Spirit is given by Paul's hands
8  The Jews blaspheme his doctrine, which is confirmed by miracles
13  The Jewish exorcists,
16  are beaten by a man who had an evil spirit
19  Conjuring books are burnt
21  Demetrius, for love of gain, raises an uproar against Paul;
35  which is appeased by the town clerk

Greek Commentary for Acts 19:16

Leaped on them [επαλομενος επ αυτους]
Second aorist (ingressive) middle participle of επαλλομαι — ephallomai old verb to spring upon like a panther, here only in the N.T. [source]
Mastered [κατακυριευσας]
First aorist (effective) active participle of κατακυριευω — katakurieuō late verb from κατα — kata and κυριος — kurios to become lord or master of. Both (αμποτερων — amphoterōn). Papyri examples exist where αμποτεροι — amphoteroi means “all” or more than “two” (Robertson, Grammar, p. 745). So here αμποτεροι — amphoteroi includes all seven. “Both” in old English was used for more than two. So that Another example (Acts 19:10, Acts 19:11) of ωστε — hōste with the infinitive for result. Naked (γυμνους — gumnous). Probably with torn garments, Wounded Perfect passive participle of τραυματιζω — traumatizō old verb to wound, from τραυμα — trauma (a wound). In the N.T. only here and Luke 20:12. [source]
Both [αμποτερων]
Papyri examples exist where αμποτεροι — amphoteroi means “all” or more than “two” (Robertson, Grammar, p. 745). So here αμποτεροι — amphoteroi includes all seven. “Both” in old English was used for more than two. [source]
So that [ωστε]
Another example (Acts 19:10, Acts 19:11) of ωστε — hōste with the infinitive for result. Naked (γυμνους — gumnous). Probably with torn garments, Wounded Perfect passive participle of τραυματιζω — traumatizō old verb to wound, from τραυμα — trauma (a wound). In the N.T. only here and Luke 20:12. [source]
Naked [γυμνους]
Probably with torn garments, [source]
Wounded [τετραυματισμενους]
Perfect passive participle of τραυματιζω — traumatizō old verb to wound, from τραυμα — trauma (a wound). In the N.T. only here and Luke 20:12. [source]
Prevailed against [ἴσχυσε]
See on Luke 14:30; and Luke 16:3. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 19:16

Luke 20:12 Wounded [τραυματίσαντες]
Only here and Acts 19:16. [source]
Luke 20:12 They wounded [τραυματισαντες]
First aorist active participle of τραυματιζω — traumatizō An old verb, from τραυμα — trauma a wound, but in the N.T. only here and Acts 19:16. [source]
Acts 23:8 Both [αμποτερα]
Here used though three items of belief are mentioned as in Acts 19:16 where the seven sons of Sceva are thus described. This idiom is common enough in papyri and Byzantine Greek (Robertson, Grammar, p. 745). [source]
Acts 25:7 Which had come down [οι καταβεβηκοτες]
Perfect active participle of καταβαινω — katabainō They had come down on purpose at the invitation of Festus (Acts 25:5), and were now ready. Stood round about him (περιεστησαν αυτον — periestēsan auton). Second aorist (ingressive) active (intransitive) of περιιστημι — periistēmi old verb, “Took their stand around him,” “periculum intentantes ” (Bengel). Cf. Luke 23:10 about Christ. They have no lawyer this time, but they mass their forces so as to impress Festus. Bringing against him Bearing down on. See note on Acts 20:9; and note on Acts 26:10, only N.T. examples of this ancient verb. Many and grievous charges (πολλα και βαρεα αιτιωματα — polla kai barea aitiōmata). This word αιτιωμα — aitiōma for old form αιτιαμα — aitiama is found in one papyrus (Moulton and Milligan‘s Vocabulary) in sense of “blame.” But the charges were no “heavier” than those made by Tertullus (Acts 24:5-8). Paul‘s reply proves this and they were also probably on court record (Furneaux). See this adjective βαρυς — barus (heavy) used with λυκοι — lukoi (wolves) in Acts 20:29. Which they could not prove Imperfect active of ισχυω — ischuō to have strength or power as in Acts 19:16, Acts 19:20. Repetition and reiteration and vehemence took the place of proof (αποδειχαι — apodeixai first aorist active infinitive of αποδεικνυμι — apodeiknumi to show forth, old verb, in N.T. only here, Acts 2:22 which see and 1 Corinthians 4:9). [source]
Acts 25:7 Bringing against him [καταπεροντες]
Bearing down on. See note on Acts 20:9; and note on Acts 26:10, only N.T. examples of this ancient verb. Many and grievous charges (πολλα και βαρεα αιτιωματα — polla kai barea aitiōmata). This word αιτιωμα — aitiōma for old form αιτιαμα — aitiama is found in one papyrus (Moulton and Milligan‘s Vocabulary) in sense of “blame.” But the charges were no “heavier” than those made by Tertullus (Acts 24:5-8). Paul‘s reply proves this and they were also probably on court record (Furneaux). See this adjective βαρυς — barus (heavy) used with λυκοι — lukoi (wolves) in Acts 20:29. Which they could not prove Imperfect active of ισχυω — ischuō to have strength or power as in Acts 19:16, Acts 19:20. Repetition and reiteration and vehemence took the place of proof (αποδειχαι — apodeixai first aorist active infinitive of αποδεικνυμι — apodeiknumi to show forth, old verb, in N.T. only here, Acts 2:22 which see and 1 Corinthians 4:9). [source]
Acts 25:7 Which they could not prove [α ουκ ισχυον αποδειχαι]
Imperfect active of ισχυω — ischuō to have strength or power as in Acts 19:16, Acts 19:20. Repetition and reiteration and vehemence took the place of proof (αποδειχαι — apodeixai first aorist active infinitive of αποδεικνυμι — apodeiknumi to show forth, old verb, in N.T. only here, Acts 2:22 which see and 1 Corinthians 4:9). [source]
James 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked [εαν αδελπος η αδελπη γυμνοι υπαρχωσιν]
Condition again of third class (supposable case) with εαν — ean and present active subjunctive of υπαρχω — huparchō to exist, in the plural though η — ē (or) is used and not και — kai (and). Hence γυμνοι — gumnoi is masculine plural in the predicate nominative. It does not here mean absolutely naked, but without sufficient clothing as in Matthew 25:36.; John 21:7; Acts 19:16. [source]
1 Peter 5:3 As lording it [κατακυριεύοντες]
See Matthew 20:25; Acts 19:16. Other words are used for the exercise of legitimate authority in the church: προΐ́σταμαι , to be over (1 Thessalonians 5:12; 1 Timothy 5:17); ποιμαίνω , as 1 Peter 5:2, tend. But this carries the idea of high-handed rule. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 19:16 mean?

And having leapt the man on them in whom was the spirit - evil having overpowered them all he prevailed against them so that naked wounded they fled out of the house that
καὶ ἐφαλόμενος ἄνθρωπος ἐπ’ αὐτοὺς ἐν ἦν τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ πονηρὸν κατακυριεύσας ἀμφοτέρων ἴσχυσεν κατ’ αὐτῶν ὥστε γυμνοὺς τετραυματισμένους ἐκφυγεῖν ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου ἐκείνου

ἐφαλόμενος  having  leapt 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Middle, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἐνάλλομαι 
Sense: to leap upon, spring upon.
ἄνθρωπος  man 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἄνθρωπος  
Sense: a human being, whether male or female.
  whom 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
πνεῦμα  spirit 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: πνεῦμα  
Sense: a movement of air (a gentle blast.
τὸ  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
πονηρὸν  evil 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: πονηρός  
Sense: full of labours, annoyances, hardships.
κατακυριεύσας  having  overpowered 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: κατακυριεύω  
Sense: to bring under one’s power, to subject one’s self, to subdue, master.
ἀμφοτέρων  them  all 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: ἀμφότεροι  
Sense: both of two, both the one and the other.
ἴσχυσεν  he  prevailed 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἰσχύω  
Sense: to be strong.
κατ’  against 
Parse: Preposition
Root: κατά 
Sense: down from, through out.
ὥστε  so  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὥστε  
Sense: so that, insomuch that.
γυμνοὺς  naked 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: γυμνός  
Sense: properly.
τετραυματισμένους  wounded 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Participle Middle or Passive, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: τραυματίζω  
Sense: to wound.
ἐκφυγεῖν  they  fled 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: ἐκφεύγω  
Sense: to flee out of, flee away.
ἐκ  out  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐκ 
Sense: out of, from, by, away from.
οἴκου  house 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: οἶκος  
Sense: a house.
ἐκείνου  that 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: ἐκεῖνος  
Sense: he, she it, etc.

What are the major concepts related to Acts 19:16?

Loading Information...