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Special miracles only occurred once in Paul’s ministry. The Holy Spirit can minister in a unique
way from time to time, but it will be rare. The idea of a “special anointing” for only one area is
not true. The anointing will break every yoke of bondage. Jesus declared the Spirit of the Lord
was upon him (Luke 4:18) and the end result was the preaching of the gospel to the poor, the
recovery of sight to the blind, healing of the brokenhearted, and setting at liberty those who
were bruised. One anointing covers all of these needs.

Like Jesus, God’s power worked through the hands of Paul. He laid hands on sick people and
special miracles occurred. Prayer cloths were taken to the sick and demon possessed, and they
were delivered.

Act 19:12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the
diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.

The handkerchiefs and aprons carry God’s anointing to both heal and deliver (Mark 5:30; Luke
6:19). The handkerchiefs come from the women who attend the meetings during the day. The
aprons are work aprons the men wore to their jobs. Most of the employment available in the
city is for craftsmen who make statues of Diana (verse 24). These men come to the meetings in
the evening to join their wives. When the anointing of God moves strongly in the meeting,
handkerchiefs and aprons are taken from Paul’s body and delivered to the sick and demon
possessed in the city. Great healings and deliverance take place. The same anointing that
delivers people from sickness also delivers people from demons.
A greater anointing is not necessary for people to be delivered from demons than for healing.
The smaller handkerchiefs are not exclusively for healing and the larger aprons exclusively for
deliverance from demons. It is not necessary to use a larger piece of cloth for a person to be
delivered from a demon; the anointing breaks the yoke.

SEVEN SONS OF SCEVA

Act 19:13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name
of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "We exorcise you by the Jesus whom
Paul preaches."

Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists (exorkistes: enchanters), took upon them to call
over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure (horchizo: put on
oath, make swear) you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
These “vagabonds” are traveling Jews who cast devils out for money. They have become quite
rich by temporarily ridding people of demons. These men are revered in the city and thought
to be holy men. People do not know they are working in league with Satan himself.

The word for exorcist means “one who casts out devils by magic formulas and incantations.”
These men virtually have a monopoly on their trade until Paul comes to town with real power
over demons. Apparently, the men attend one of Paul’s meetings and notice he uses the name