Sceva: An implement, a Jew, chief of the priests at Ephesus
(Acts 19:13-16)
i.e., the head of one of the twenty-four courses of the house of
Levi. He had seven sons, who "took upon them to call over them which
had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus," in imitation of Paul.
They tried their method of exorcism on a fierce demoniac, and failed.
His answer to them was to this effect
(Acts 19:15) "The Jesus whom you
invoke is One whose authority I acknowledge; and the Paul whom you
name I recognize to be a servant or messenger of God; but what sort
of men are ye who have been empowered to act as you do by neither?"
(Lindsay on the Acts of the Apostles.)
