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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 of the translations note that God did miracles through Paul.
2. Similarity – Both of the translations indicated how some Jews drove out evil spirits
from possessed people.
3. Difference – In verse 16 of the ESV it states, “and the man in whom was the evil
spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them an overpowered them, so that they fled
out of that house naked and wounded,” however, the NIV version says it this way,
“then the man who had the evil jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave
them such a beating they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.”
4. Difference – In verse 18 of the NIV it says, “many of those who believed now came
and openly confessed what they had done,” but the EVS said, “also many of those
who were no believers, came, confessing and divulging their practices.”
5. Difference - In verse 15, the NIV said that the evil spirit knew about Paul, while in
the ESV it said the evil spirit recognized Paul.
C. Identify the basic elements of the story you are studying.
1. Main characters: (List them) Paul, Jewish exorcist, evil spirit, possessed man, Jews
and Greeks in Ephesus.
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2. Plot: (50-100 words).
Paul travels to Ephesus performing miracles through the help of the Holy Spirit. Jewish
exorcists were trying to cast out demons on the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches about and
possessed man went crazy on the Jewish exorcist and beat him badly, tore of their clothes until
they were naked and running way. This caused the Jews and Greeks in Ephesus to become
fearful of the Lord and begam to worship his name, confessing their sins and burning their magic
books. This is how the word of the Lord started to spread in a powerful way.
3. Story structure: (50-100 words)
Introduction: Paul was performing miracles on his journey to Ephesus.
Inciting Incident: Jewish exorcist tried driving out evil spirits in Jesus’ name just as Paul
had down.
Rising Action: the evil spirit did not recognize the exorcist.
Climax: the spirit filled man overpowered the exorcist beating him badly and ripping off
his clothes making him run away naked.
Falling action: The Jews and Greeks of Ephesus found out what had happened, and fear
fell upon them all.
Resolution: The word of the Lord started to spread thanks to the Jews and Greek who
began to worship the Lord, burn their magic books and repent for their sins.
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:
a. Paul (main character)
b. Jewish exorcist
c. Possessed Man
d. Evil spirit
e. Jews and Greeks of Ephesus
2. What:
a. Paul travels to Ephesus performing miracles and driving out evil spirits.
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b. A Jewish exorcist tried to drive out evil spirits in the name of Jesus just as
Paul had been doing.
c. The evil spirit did not recognize the Jewish exorcist.
d. The man who was possessed by the spirit leaped on the exorcist, beat him and
ripped off his clothes.
e. The exorcist ran away naked and bloodied.
f. The Jews and Greeks of Ephesus learned what happened, became fearful, and
began to worship the Lord, confessing their sins and burning their magic
books.
g. The word of the Lord began to spread in a mighty way after that.
3. Where:
a. In Ephesus.
b. In the house of an evil spirit filled man.
4. When:
a. After the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.
b. After Paul’s arrival to Ephesus.
c. After the Jewish exorcist was beaten and left naked by the evil spirit he tried
to extract from a possessed man.
d. The Jews and Greeks became fearful and repented for their sins after they
witnessed the beating of the Jewish exorcist.
e. Gods word began to spread after the repentance of the Jews and Greeks in
Ephesus and after they began to worship him.
5. Why:
a. Why did Paul travel to Ephesus?
i. Acts 19:11-12 says, “God was doing extraordinary miracles by the
hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched
his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases let them, and
the evil spirits came out of them” (ESV)
b. Why did the Jewish exorcist become beaten, bloodied, and left naked?
i. Because he was not known by an evil spirit, he was trying to make
leave “using the name of Jesus whom Paul preached” (Acts 11:15,
ESV).
c. Why did the Jews and Greeks in Ephesus become fearful and repent for their
sins while worshiping the Lord?
i. Because they saw what had happened between the evil possessed man
and the Jewish exorcist.
d. Why did God’s word spread in a powerful way?
i. Because the Jews and Greeks who began repenting for their sins and
started worshiping the Lord.
6. How:
a. How did Paul do extraordinary miracles?
i. By Gods power through the holy sprit
b. How did the Jewish exorcist become bloodied and naked?
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i. By his attempt to draw out an evil spirit using Jesus’ name just as Paul
had been doing.
c. How did God’s word spread widely and powerfully?
i. By the Jews and Greeks in Ephesus witnessing an evil spirit leave a
Jewish exorcist beaten and naked, making them repent, burn their
magic books and worship God.
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