Acts 19:11,12 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

And God To add the greater efficacy and success to this important doctrine; wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul Who, as he abode longer at Ephesus than at any other city we read of, so he wrought more and greater miracles than in any other. So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs, or aprons Greek, σουδαρια η σιμικινθια, sudaria vel semicinctia. These two words, originally Latin, have been differently rendered, but the etymology of the first plainly determines it to signify pieces of linen with which they wiped the sweat from their faces, and the latter word signifies things round their waists, doubtless girdles or sashes. Aprons made no part of the ordinary dress of the Greeks; yet they might possibly be occasionally used, both by men and women, to preserve their clothes clean, while they were engaged in some particular kind of work. Dr. Macknight thinks, that these handkerchiefs and aprons belonged to the sick, from whom they were brought to touch Paul's body, and then taken back to them, when they had the effect here mentioned. And the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits Which occasioned many of these diseases, though they might appear purely natural; went out of them In this respect Paul was equal to Peter, whose shadow, as he passed by, overshadowing the sick, who were laid on couches in the streets of Jerusalem, cured them of their distempers, Acts 5:15. Hence we may infer, that it was in a great measure owing to the multitude and greatness of Paul's miracles, that so many of the inhabitants of Ephesus, and of the province of Asia, embraced the gospel.