Acts 19:15 – “One day the evil spirit answered them, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?’”

Extended Explanation

This verse is part of a dramatic encounter between the sons of Sceva, a group of Jewish exorcists, and a demon-possessed man. These men had been trying to cast out demons by using the name of Jesus, even though they didn’t actually know Him.

When they attempted to drive out a demon by saying, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out” (Acts 19:13), they were met with an unexpected response. The demon acknowledged Jesus’ power and Paul’s authority, but it mocked the sons of Sceva, saying, “Who are you?”

This response exposed a critical issue: they had no real authority over demons because they did not truly know Jesus. They were trying to use Jesus’ name like a magic word, but they lacked faith and relationship with Him. As the next verse reveals, their encounter ended in disaster—the demon-possessed man attacked them, overpowering all seven brothers and sending them running away in humiliation (Acts 19:16).

This verse serves as a powerful warning that spiritual authority does not come from religious words or titles—it comes from a genuine relationship with Jesus.

Historical Context

Ephesus was a city known for magic, sorcery, and spiritual rituals. Many people believed in the power of names and incantations. Jewish exorcists were known to practice rituals using sacred names in attempts to cast out demons.

At the same time, Paul was performing true miracles in Jesus’ name (Acts 19:11-12), which caught the attention of many. The sons of Sceva saw Paul’s success and tried to copy his method—but without faith in Jesus, they had no power.

The demon’s response showed that spiritual forces recognize real authority. The demon acknowledged Jesus (because He is the Son of God) and Paul (because he was truly following Jesus), but it dismissed the sons of Sceva as frauds.

Theological Implications

1. Demons recognize true spiritual authority. The demon in this passage knew Jesus’ power and acknowledged Paul’s authority, but it did not recognize the sons of Sceva because they had no real connection to Christ (Luke 10:17-20).
2. The name of Jesus is not a magic word. These men thought they could use Jesus’ name for their own benefit, but Jesus’ power is for those who truly follow Him (John 14:13-14).
3. Faith cannot be borrowed. The sons of Sceva tried to rely on Paul’s relationship with Jesus instead of having their own. But faith must be personal—each person must know Jesus for themselves (Matthew 7:21-23).
4. Spiritual warfare is real. This passage reminds us that spiritual forces are real and that only those who are in Christ have victory over them (Ephesians 6:10-12).

Literary Analysis

Luke, the author of Acts, presents this story as a contrast between real faith and false religion.

• Paul’s ministry (Acts 19:11-12) showed real power through Jesus.
• The sons of Sceva’s failure (Acts 19:15-16) exposed false, secondhand faith.

The demon’s response—“Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?”—is structured to emphasize the contrast. The word “know” used for Jesus suggests full knowledge, while the word used for Paul implies awareness of his reputation as a follower of Jesus. However, the question “Who are you?” shows complete rejection of the sons of Sceva.

This reveals the theme that knowing about Jesus is not the same as knowing Jesus.

Biblical Cross-References

• Luke 10:17-20 – Jesus’ disciples cast out demons because their names were written in heaven, meaning they belonged to Him.
• Matthew 7:21-23 – Jesus warns that many will claim to do miracles in His name, but He will say, “I never knew you.”
• James 4:7 – True spiritual authority comes from submitting to God.
• Ephesians 6:10-12 – Spiritual battles require God’s strength, not human effort.
• Acts 16:16-18 – Paul casts out a demon in Jesus’ name, demonstrating true authority.

What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian

This verse is a wake-up call for anyone who thinks Christianity is just about saying the right words or following traditions. Spiritual power comes from knowing Jesus personally, not from repeating Christian phrases or rituals.

For today’s Christian, this means:

1. Make sure your faith is real. The sons of Sceva tried to use Jesus’ name, but they didn’t actually know Him. Being around Christians or growing up in church does not mean you have faith—you must personally trust in Jesus (John 10:27).
2. Don’t rely on secondhand faith. You cannot live off someone else’s relationship with Jesus. Knowing about Jesus is not enough—you need to follow Him yourself (Romans 10:9).
3. Be aware of spiritual warfare. The demon in this passage exposed fake faith. Christians need to be serious about their walk with God because the enemy knows the difference between real and false believers (1 Peter 5:8).
4. Live in the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul had real authority because he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Every Christian who follows Jesus has the same Spirit in them (Romans 8:11).

How This Verse Relates to a Loving God

God’s love is seen in how He gives real authority to those who trust in Him. He doesn’t want people to be deceived by fake faith—He invites us into a genuine relationship with Him.

Even in this story, we see God’s mercy—by allowing the sons of Sceva to fail, He exposed their false faith and gave them a chance to turn to the truth. God wants people to follow Him sincerely, not just go through religious motions.

How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ

Jesus is the true source of all power and authority. The demon in this passage recognized that Jesus had real authority, and Paul had power because he followed Jesus.

This reminds us that victory over spiritual forces comes only through Jesus:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” – Matthew 28:18

Paul’s ministry was successful because he was connected to Christ. The sons of Sceva failed because they tried to use Jesus’ name without knowing Him. This is a powerful reminder that Jesus is not just a name we say—He is the One we must know and follow.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. Why did the demon acknowledge Jesus and Paul but not the sons of Sceva?
2. How does this passage challenge the idea of using Jesus’ name without true faith?
3. Have you ever met someone who claimed to follow Jesus but didn’t truly know Him? How does this passage apply to that?
4. Why is it important to have a personal relationship with Jesus rather than relying on religious traditions?
5. How does this passage encourage us to stand firm in faith rather than treating Christianity like a ritual?