Acts 19:12
What does Acts 19:12 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 19:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 19:12 means
So powerful is God’s work that cloths from Paul—handkerchiefs or aprons—are carried to the sick, resulting in healings and deliverances from evil spirits. In Ephesus, where objects were thought to carry spiritual force, God condescends to heal even through secondary means, yet Luke carefully maintains that the power is God’s, not magical. These tokens likely came from Paul’s manual labor, emphasizing humble means in the Lord’s hands. The effect is twofold: mercy to the afflicted and a public testimony that Christ’s authority over disease and demons is real. Yet this is descriptive, not prescriptive; the center remains the word of the Lord and faith in Him.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000insomuch that unto the sick were carried away from his body handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out.
KJV
King James Version · 1611So 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901insomuch that unto the sick were carried away from his body handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949So that bits of linen and clothing from his body were taken to people who were ill, and their diseases went away from them and the evil spirits went out.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862so that even unto the ailing were brought from his body handkerchiefs or aprons, and the sicknesses departed from them; the evil spirits also went forth from them.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752So that even there were brought from his body to the sick, handkerchiefs and aprons: and the diseases departed from them: and the wicked spirits went out of them.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890so that even napkins or aprons were brought from his body [and put] upon the sick, and the diseases left them, and the wicked spirits went out.
Context
This vivid description follows the statement that God worked special miracles through Paul. It heightens the sense of divine power at work in Ephesus before shifting to a cautionary tale of spiritual presumption. The next verses recount how itinerant Jewish exorcists attempt to invoke Jesus’ name as a technique, only to be overpowered. The juxtaposition teaches that the Lord’s power is personal and covenantal, not mechanical.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Mark 16:17
And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues;
- Acts 5:15
insomuch that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that, as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some one of them.
- 2 Kings 4:29
Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thy hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child.
- 2 Kings 13:20
And Elisha died, and they buried him. Now the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.
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