And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. (9) But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. (10) And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. (11) And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: (12) So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. (13) 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. (14) And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. (15) And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? (16) 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. (17) And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. (18) And many that believed came, and confessed, and showed their deeds. (19) Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. (20) So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
I beg the Reader to remark with me, how uniformly, through the whole history of the Church, may we trace the different effects which the Lord the Holy Ghost hath declared should follow the ministration of his word. Let the Bible be opened at any part whatever, this line appears as luminous and shining as though drawn with a sun beam. To one class of hearers, it becomes the savor of death unto death. To the other, of life unto life, 2 Corinthians 2:16. And the same is equally visible in every congregation in the present hour, wheresoever the truth, as it is in Jesus, is faithfully dispensed. We may behold some melting under the word, awakened, interested, and not unfrequently alarmingly concerned, in enquiries for the one thing needful. While others, under the same word, as insensible, and, as it is here said, hardened, and believing not; yea, speaking evil of this way before the multitude. Can the word of God's grace make a more decided appeal than when scripture truths so uniformly concur, from age to age, with common experience?
I do not think it necessary in a work of this kind, to enter into the minutia of the several things in the historical, part of the subject. The opposition Paul met with from those Jews, and the Lord's success upon his labors to confirm the word, are beautifully blended, to shew how unavailing the contest was, when the Lord is gathering out his people. The seven wretched sons of this Sceva, stand forth an awful monument in the history of the Church, what awful delusions the human mind is capable of falling under. But the Lord hath shewn in all such instances, that no weapon formed against Christ and his Church, can prosper. Every tongue that shall rise in judgment against the Lord and his people, must be condemned, Isaiah 54:17.