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Name: Amy James
BIBLE STUDY PROJECT: OBSERVATION TEMPLATE
Passage: Acts 19:11-22
A. I have read Acts 19:11-22 in both a formal translation (NASB, NRSV, ESV, or CSB)
and a functional translation (NIV, NLT, or NCV). Highlight the correct answer. Please
use the translation provided in your digital library or found at Biblegateway.com
oYes
oNo
B. Having read the passage in both formal and functional translation, list at least 2 similarities
and 3 differences between the way both translations cover this story. These similarities and
differences should be related to the text itself rather than the translation. For example, an
observation like, “The formal translation is harder to read” is not an acceptable observation
because it deals with the translation itself rather than the text. You may list as many
similarities and differences that you find providing that you meet the minimum amount for
each one.
1. Similarity – Both translations say that the seven sons of Sceva who tried to invoke
the evil spirits in the name of the Lord Jesus ran out of the house naked.
2. Similarity – Both translations say that Paul passed through Macedonia and Achaia
to get to Jerusalem.
3. Difference – The ESV describes the seven sons of Sceva as “itinerant Jewish
exorcists,” whereas the NIV labels them as “some Jews.”
4. Difference – The ESV says that the now believers confessed and divulged their
practices, but the NIV only says they openly confessed what they had done.
5. Difference - The ESV states that a number of those who practiced “magical arts”
brought their “books” to be burned and that their value was fifty thousand “pieces
of silver.” However, the NIV states a number of those who practiced “sorcery”
brought their “scrolls” to be burned and that their value was fifty thousand
“drachmas.”
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C. Identify the basic elements of the story you are studying.
1. Main characters: (List them)
Paul, the seven sons of Sceva, and the now believers.
2. Plot: (50-100 words)
God was performing miracles through Paul. The handkerchiefs and aprons that touched
Paul’s skin were placed on the sick to cure them from the evil spirits. When seven sons of
a Jewish high priest tried to drive evil spirits out by invoking the name of the Lord Jesus,
they were unsuccessful. One day, the evil spirit answered them, claiming that he knew
Jesus and recognized Paul but did not know who they were. Then the man with the evil
spirit inside jumped on top of them and, by overpowering them, caused them to flee out
of the house naked and wounded as fast as they could. The events of this spread quickly
to all of the Jews and Greeks in Ephesus, causing them to fear and become now believers
while holding the name of the Lord Jesus in high honor. They started confessing all that
they had done and divulging their practices. Many believers who used to practice magic
brought their books to be burned in front of everyone even though they were worth over
fifty thousand pieces of silver. Since the word of the Lord was growing rapidly after these
events, Paul felt compelled to go to Jerusalem after passing through Macedonia and
Achaia and wanted to get to Rome eventually, so he sent his two helpers, Timothy and
Erastus, to Macedonia so he could stay in Asia for a while longer.
3. Story structure: (50-100 words)
Note: Plot and Story Structure are not the same thing (see the tutorial and student example)
Introduction: God was doing extraordinary miracles through Paul.
Inciting Incident: Seven sons of a high Jewish priest were trying to perform exorcisms
in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Rising Action: The evil spirit communicates to the seven Jews that he knows Jesus and
recognizes Paul but does not know who they are.
Climax: The man with the evil spirit jumped on top of the Jews and overpowered them,
causing them to run out of the house naked and wounded.
Falling Action: The Jews and the Greeks living in Ephesus became fearful after hearing
about this, turning them into believers, and started openly confessing their sorcery and
bringing their magic books to be burned.
Resolution: The word of the Lord grew rapidly, allowing Paul to go further in spreading
his word.
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D. List basic observations about this passage using the “Key Question” for observation.
Remember to consult and review chapters 17 and 37 in Everyday Bible Study. This will
help you be more detailed in your answers to “who,” “what,” “where,” “when,” “why,”
and “how.” Please be detailed and specific.
1. Who:
•Luke (author of Acts)
•Paul
•The unnamed man who attacked the seven sons of Sceva
•The evil spirits
•The seven sons of Sceva
•The Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus
oThese were the people who now believed and “those who had
practiced magic arts” (Acts 19:19, English Standard Version).
•Timothy (Paul’s helper)
•Erastus (Paul’s helper)
2. What:
God was using Paul to perform miracles. The sick were being healed just by touching
Paul’s handkerchiefs or aprons.
Seven of the Jewish high priest’s sons tried to cure the sick by invoking “the name of the
Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:13, English Standard Version). But when one of the evil spirits
answered back to them, saying that he did not know who they were, the man who the evil
spirit was inside jumped on them and overpowered them.
Once the residents of Ephesus learn about what happened to the sons, Jesus’ name starts
being held in high honor. People started confessing about their sorcery and brought their
magic books to be burned.
Paul could now resolve in the Spirit and send his two helpers to Macedonia.
3. Where:
•The region of Ephesus.
•Passing through Macedonia.
•Passing through Achaia.
•Jerusalem
•Asia
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4. When:
•The story takes place two years after Paul decides to take his disciples with him to
speak daily in the hall of Tyrannus (Acts 19:9).
5. Why:
•Why were Jews trying to drive out evil spirits?
oThe Jews saw that Paul was able to make evil spirits come out of people by
having a relationship with Jesus.
•Why did the seven sons flee out of the house naked and wounded?
oOne of the evil spirits that was inside of an unnamed man responded to the
seven sons, telling them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are
you?” (Acts 19:15, English Standard Version).
oThe evil spirit caused the man it possessed to leap on and master the sons by
overpowering them.
•Why did fear fall upon the Jews and Greeks in Ephesus?
oThe news had spread of what the evil spirit had done to the seven Jews.
6. How:
•How did Paul heal people from evil spirits with handkerchiefs and aprons?
oGod was doing extraordinary miracles through Paul.
•How did the word of the Lord prevail?
oAfter people heard about how the evil spirit injured the seven sons, they
started to fear Jesus and became believers.
