THE
SORCERERS OF EPHESUS
AND THEIR BOOKS OF MAGICK !
Paul saw that "a great door and effectual" was opening
before him, although there were "many adversaries." 1
Corinthians 16:9. Ephesus was not only the most magnificent, but the
most corrupt, of the cities of Asia. Superstition and sensual pleasure
held sway over her teeming population. Under the shadow of her temples,
criminals of every grade found shelter, and the most degrading vices
flourished.
Ephesus was a popular center
for the worship of Diana. The fame of the magnificent temple of
"Diana of the Ephesians" extended throughout all Asia and the
world. Its surpassing splendor made it the pride, not only of the city,
but of the nation. The idol within the temple was declared by tradition
to have fallen from the sky. Upon it were inscribed symbolic characters,
which were believed to possess great power. Books had been written by
the Ephesians to explain the meaning and use of these symbols.
Among those who gave close
study to these costly books were many magicians, who wielded a powerful
influence over the minds of the superstitious worshipers of the image
within the temple.
The apostle Paul, in his
labors at Ephesus, was given special tokens of divine favor. The power
of God accompanied his efforts, and many were healed of physical
maladies. "God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 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." These manifestations of supernatural power were far more
potent than had ever before been witnessed in Ephesus, and were of such
a character that they could not be imitated by the skill of the juggler
or the enchantments of the sorcerer. As these miracles were wrought in
the name of Jesus of Nazareth, the people had opportunity to see that
the God of heaven was more powerful than the magicians who were
worshipers of the goddess Diana. Thus the Lord exalted His servant, even
before the idolaters themselves, immeasurably above the most powerful
and favored of the magicians.
But the One to whom all the
spirits of evil are subject and who had given His servants authority
over them, was about to bring still greater shame and defeat upon those
who despised and profaned His holy name. Sorcery had been prohibited by
the Mosaic law, on pain of death, yet from time to time it had been
secretly practiced by apostate Jews. At the time of Paul's visit to
Ephesus there were in the city "certain of the vagabond Jews,
exorcists," who, seeing the wonders wrought by him, "took upon
them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord
Jesus." An attempt was made by "seven sons of one Sceva, a
Jew, and chief of the priests." Finding a man possessed with a
demon, they addressed him, "We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul
preacheth." But "the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I
know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 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."
Thus unmistakable proof was
given of the sacredness of the name of Christ, and the peril which they
incurred who should invoke it without faith in the divinity of the
Saviour's mission. "Fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord
Jesus was magnified."
Facts which had previously
been concealed were now brought to light. In accepting Christianity,
some of the believers had not fully renounced their superstitions. To
some extent they still continued the practice of magic. Now, convinced
of their error, "many that believed came, and confessed, and showed
their deeds." Even to some of the sorcerers themselves the good
work extended; and "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.
So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed."
By burning their books on
magic, the Ephesian converts showed that the things in which they had
once delighted they now abhorred. It was by and through magic that they
had especially offended God and imperiled their souls; and it was
against magic that they showed such indignation. Thus they gave evidence
of true conversion.
These treatises on divination
contained rules and forms of communication with evil spirits. They were
the regulations of the worship of Satan--directions for soliciting his
help and obtaining information from him. By retaining these books the
disciples would have exposed themselves to temptation; by selling them
they would have placed temptation in the way of others. They had
renounced the kingdom of darkness, and to destroy its power they did not
hesitate at any sacrifice. Thus truth triumphed over men's prejudices
and their love of money.
By this manifestation of the
power of Christ, a mighty victory for Christianity was gained in the
very stronghold of superstition. The influence of what had taken place
was more widespread than even Paul realized. From Ephesus the news was
widely circulated, and a strong impetus was given to the cause of
Christ. Long after the apostle himself had finished his course, these
scenes lived in the memory of men and were the means of winning converts
to the gospel.
It is fondly supposed that
heathen superstitions have disappeared before the civilization of the
twentieth century. But the word of God and the stern testimony of facts
declare that sorcery is practiced in this age as verily as in the days
of the old-time magicians. The ancient system of magic is, in reality,
the same as what is now known as modern spiritualism. Satan is finding
access to thousands of minds by presenting himself under the guise of
departed friends. The Scriptures declare that "the dead know not
anything." Ecclesiastes 9:5. Their thoughts, their love, their
hatred, have perished. The dead do not hold communion with the living.
But true to his early cunning, Satan employs this device in order to
gain control of minds. 290
Through spiritualism many of
the sick, the bereaved, the curious, are communicating with evil
spirits. All who venture to do this are on dangerous ground. The word of
truth declares how God regards them. In ancient times He pronounced a
stern judgment on a king who had sent for counsel to a heathen oracle:
"Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to
inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron? Now therefore thus saith the
Lord, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up,
but shalt surely die." 2 Kings 1:3, 4.
The magicians of heathen times
have their counterpart in the spiritualistic mediums, the clairvoyants,
and the fortune-tellers of today. The mystic voices that spoke at Endor
and at Ephesus are still by their lying words misleading the children of
men. Could the veil be lifted from before our eyes, we should see evil
angels employing all their arts to deceive and to destroy. Wherever an
influence is exerted to cause men to forget God, there Satan is
exercising his bewitching power. When men yield to his influence, ere
they are aware the mind is bewildered and the soul polluted. The
apostle's admonition to the Ephesian church should be heeded by the
people of God today: "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works
of darkness, but rather reprove them." Ephesians 5:11.
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