Acts chapter 19

vs 11

Performing miracles was still on the cards during this time then. I guess it's all up to God when miracles take place.

vs 12

That is pretty impressive. I mean, for God to honour that is a big thing. It would have made a hell of a fuss, that's for sure.

vs 13

I think this is a testimony to the times. People were just as pragmatic back then as they are now. They'd try anything to get the job done.

vs 14

The names, I think, just further justify the truthfulness of this story. Whether these people were all actual brothers, or like a mini religious order, who knows.

vs 15

And yet, even though a piece of cloth that Paul has touched would heal someone who is sick, God did not see the need to honour the pragmatic use of his Son's name by these guys.

vs 16

I just think this is so funny that God lets these guys all get the snot beaten out of them and they even get stripped naked! Poor guys, but it's funny.

vs 17

And not just Jesus, but the fact that there needed to be a relationship with Jesus. Simply spouting his name was not enough.

vs 18

This is a turn up for the books. Just like today, there were lots of people who believed, but kept it under their hat because they didn't want to be seen publically as a Christian.

vs 19

That is a lot of money. Which tells us, I think, both that sorcery was more common, but also very expensive to practice.

vs 20

A first century bonfire of the vanities seems to have attracted a lot of attention. Perhaps I was wrong, and this is the wrap up verse talking about the growth of the church?