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◄ Acts 19:19►

New International Version
A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.

New Living Translation
A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars.

English Standard Version
And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.

Berean Standard Bible
And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books and burned them in front of everyone. When the value of the books was calculated, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.

Berean Literal Bible
and many of those having practiced the magic arts, having brought the books, burnedthem before all. And they counted up the prices of them and foundit five myriads of silverlings.

King James Bible
Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before allmen: and they counted the price of them, and foundit fifty thousandpieces of silver.

New King James Version
Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burnedthem in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, andit totaled fifty thousandpieces of silver.

New American Standard Bible
And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together andbegan burningthem in the sight of everyone; and they added up the prices of the books and foundit to be fifty thousandpieces of silver.

NASB 1995
And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

NASB 1977
And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together andbegan burning them in the sight of all; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

Legacy Standard Bible
And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and were burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

Amplified Bible
And many of those who had practiced magical arts collected their books and [throwing book after book on the pile] began burning them in front of everyone. They calculated their value and found it to be 50,000 pieces of silver.

Christian Standard Bible
while many of those who had practiced magic collected their books and burned them in front of everyone. So they calculated their value and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
while many of those who had practiced magic collected their books and burned them in front of everyone. So they calculated their value and found it to be 50,000 pieces of silver.

American Standard Version
And not a few of them that practised magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all; and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

Contemporary English Version
Some who had been practicing witchcraft even brought their books and burned them in public. These books were worth about 50,000 silver coins.

English Revised Version
And not a few of them that practised curious arts brought their books together, and burned them in the sight of all: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Many of those who were involved in the occult gathered their books and burned them in front of everyone. They added up the cost of these books and found that they were worth 50,000 silver coins.

Good News Translation
Many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in public. They added up the price of the books, and the total came to fifty thousand silver coins.

International Standard Version
Moreover, many people who had practiced occult arts gathered their books and burned them in front of everybody. They estimated their value and found them to have been worth 50,000 silver coins.

NET Bible
Large numbers of those who had practiced magic collected their books and burned them up in the presence of everyone. When the value of the books was added up, it was found to total fifty thousand silver coins.

New Heart English Bible
Many of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. They counted the price of them, and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.

Webster's Bible Translation
Many also of them who 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.

Weymouth New Testament
and not a few of those who had practised magical arts brought their books together and burnt them in the presence of all. The total value was reckoned and found to be 50,000 silver coins.

Majority Text Translations

Majority Standard Bible
And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books and burned them in front of everyone. When the value of the books was calculated, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.

World English Bible
Many of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. They counted their price, and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and many of those who had practiced the superfluous arts, having brought the scrolls together, were burning [them] before all; and they reckoned together the prices of them, and found [it] fifty thousand pieces of silver,

Berean Literal Bible
and many of those having practiced the magic arts, having brought the books, burnedthem before all. And they counted up the prices of them and foundit five myriads of silverlings.

Young's Literal Translation
and many of those who had practised the curious arts, having brought the books together, were burning them before all; and they reckoned together the prices of them, and found it five myriads of silverlings;

Smith's Literal Translation
And sufficient of them having done unnecessary things, having brought books together, burned before all: and computed their prices, and found fifty thousand of silver.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And many of them who had followed curious arts, brought together their books, and burnt them before all; and counting the price of them, they found the money to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then many of those who had followed odd sects brought together their books, and they burned them in the sight of all. And after determining the value of these, they found the price to be fifty thousand denarii.

New American Bible
Moreover, a large number of those who had practiced magic collected their books and burned them in public. They calculated their value and found it to be fifty thousand silver pieces.

New Revised Standard Version
A number of those who practiced magic collected their books and burned them publicly; when the value of these books was calculated, it was found to come to fifty thousand silver coins.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Many magicians also gathered together their books and brought them and burned them before the presence of the people; and they counted the price of them, and it amounted to fifty thousand pieces of silver.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Many sorcerers also gathered their books and brought and burned them before everyone and they calculated their price, and it came up to fifty thousand silver pieces.

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
And many of those who practiced magic, brought together their books, and burned them, in the presence of all. And they computed their value, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

Godbey New Testament
And many of those practicing curious arts, having brought their books, burnt them before all: and they estimated the price of them, and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.

Haweis New Testament
And many of those who practised magical arts brought the books, and burned them before all men; and they calculated the prices of them, and found them worth fifty thousand pieces of silver.

Mace New Testament
many that had practis'd magical arts, brought the books and publickly threw them into the fire: the value by computation amounting to fifty thousand pieces of silver.

Weymouth New Testament
and not a few of those who had practised magical arts brought their books together and burnt them in the presence of all. The total value was reckoned and found to be 50,000 silver coins.

Worrell New Testament
A considerable number, moreover, of those who had practiced the curious arts, having brought together the books, were burningthem in the presence of all; and they counted the prices of them, and foundthem fifty thousand pieces of silver.

Worsley New Testament
And a great number of those that had used inquisitive arts, brought the books, and burnedthem beforethem all: and they computed the price of them, and foundit to be fifty thousandpieces of silver.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Sons of Sceva
…18Many who had believed now came forward, confessing and disclosing their deeds.19And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books and burned them in front of everyone.When the value of the books was calculated,the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.20So the word of the Lord powerfully continued to spread and prevail.…

Berean Standard Bible ·Download

Cross References

Deuteronomy 18:10-12
Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, / casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead. / For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD. And because of these detestable things, the LORD your God is driving out the nations before you.

Exodus 7:11-12
But Pharaoh called the wise men and sorcerers and magicians of Egypt, and they also did the same things by their magic arts. / Each one threw down his staff, and it became a serpent. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up the other staffs.

2 Kings 23:24
Furthermore, Josiah removed the mediums and spiritists, the household gods and idols, and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem. He did this to carry out the words of the law written in the book that Hilkiah the priest had found in the house of the LORD.

Isaiah 47:12-14
So take your stand with your spells and with your many sorceries, with which you have wearied yourself from your youth. Perhaps you will succeed; perhaps you will inspire terror! / You are wearied by your many counselors; let them come forward now and save you—your astrologers who observe the stars, who monthly predict your fate. / Surely they are like stubble; the fire will burn them up. They cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame. There will be no coals to warm them or fire to sit beside.

Leviticus 19:31
You must not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out, or you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.

1 Samuel 28:3
Now by this time Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land.

2 Chronicles 33:6
He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Ben-hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.

Jeremiah 27:9-10
But as for you, do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your interpreters of dreams, your mediums, or your sorcerers who declare, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.’ / For they prophesy to you a lie that will serve to remove you from your land; I will banish you and you will perish.

Micah 5:12
I will cut the sorceries from your hand, and you will have no fortune-tellers.

Nahum 3:4
because of the many harlotries of the harlot, the seductive mistress of sorcery, who betrays nations by her prostitution and clans by her witchcraft.

Galatians 5:19-21
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; / idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, / and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Revelation 21:8
But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”

1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, / nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. / And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Ephesians 5:11-12
Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. / For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.

1 Timothy 4:1
Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,

Treasury of Scripture

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.

used.

Acts 8:9-11
But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: …

Acts 13:6,8
And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose namewas Barjesus: …

Exodus 7:11,22
Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments…

curious.

and burned.

Genesis 35:4
And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods whichwere in their hand, andall their earrings whichwere in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak whichwas by Shechem.

Exodus 32:20
And he took the calf which they had made, and burntit in the fire, and groundit to powder, and strawedit upon the water, and made the children of Israel drinkof it.

Deuteronomy 7:25,26
The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or goldthat is on them, nor takeit unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for itis an abomination to the LORD thy God…

fifty.

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Arts Bits Books Burned Burnt Counted Curious Drachmas Experts Few Fifty Fire Found Front Great Magic Pieces Practiced Practised Presence Price Publicly Reckoned Scrolls Sight Silver Sorcery Thousand Together Total Used Value Valued

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Acts 19

1.The Holy Spirit is given by Paul's hands.
8.The Jews blaspheme his doctrine, which is confirmed by miracles.
13.The Jewish exorcists,
16.are beaten by a man who had an evil spirit.
19.Conjuring books are burnt.
21.Demetrius, for love of gain, raises an uproar against Paul;
35.which is appeased by the town clerk.

Study Bible

Book ◦ Chapter

And a number of those who had practiced magic arts
This phrase refers to individuals in Ephesus who were involved in sorcery and occult practices. Ephesus was a major center for magical arts in the ancient world, known for its Ephesian letters—amulets and charms believed to hold magical power. The practice of magic was common in Greco-Roman culture, often intertwined with religion and daily life. The conversion of these individuals signifies a significant spiritual shift, as they turned away from their former ways to embrace the teachings of Christianity.

brought their books
The books mentioned here were likely scrolls or codices containing spells, incantations, and instructions for performing magical rituals. These texts were valuable both monetarily and culturally, as they represented the practitioners' livelihood and belief system. The act of bringing these books indicates a public renunciation of their past practices and a commitment to their new faith.

and burned them in front of everyone
Burning the books publicly was a powerful demonstration of repentance and a break from their past. In the ancient world, fire was often used to purify and destroy, symbolizing a complete and irreversible rejection of the old life. This act also served as a public testimony to the transformative power of the Gospel, encouraging others to consider the truth of the Christian message.

When the value of the books was calculated
The calculation of the books' value underscores the significant financial sacrifice made by these new believers. It highlights the sincerity of their conversion, as they were willing to give up substantial wealth for the sake of their newfound faith. This act of sacrifice is reminiscent of Jesus' teaching inMatthew 13:44-46, where the kingdom of heaven is likened to a treasure worth giving up everything to obtain.

the total came to fifty thousand drachmas
A drachma was a silver coin equivalent to a day's wage for a laborer. Therefore, fifty thousand drachmas represented an enormous sum, indicating the extensive nature of the magical practices in Ephesus and the considerable impact of the Gospel in the region. This event demonstrates the power of the Holy Spirit to bring about radical change in individuals and communities, fulfilling the prophecy ofIsaiah 2:2-3, where nations turn to the Lord and abandon their former ways.

Persons / Places / Events

1.Ephesus
A major city in Asia Minor, known for its temple to Artemis and a hub of commerce and culture. It was also a center for magical practices and the occult.

2.Practitioners of Magic Arts
Individuals in Ephesus who engaged in sorcery and the use of magical books. These practices were common in the city and were often lucrative.

3.Public Burning of Books
A significant event where those who practiced magic publicly renounced their former ways by burning their valuable books, symbolizing repentance and a break from their past.

4.Paul the Apostle
Although not directly mentioned in this verse, Paul’s ministry in Ephesus was instrumental in leading many to Christ, resulting in this public act of repentance.

5.Fifty Thousand Drachmas
A large sum of money, indicating the high value of the books and the significant financial sacrifice made by the converts.

Teaching Points

Repentance and Renunciation
True repentance involves a decisive break from past sins. The Ephesians' public burning of their books is a powerful example of renouncing sin and turning to God.

The Cost of Discipleship
Following Christ may require significant sacrifices, including financial ones. The Ephesians' willingness to burn valuable books demonstrates their commitment to Christ over material wealth.

Public Testimony
The public nature of the book burning served as a testimony to the transformative power of the Gospel. Our actions can serve as a witness to others.

Spiritual Warfare
The rejection of magic arts underscores the reality of spiritual warfare and the need to align with God's power rather than occult practices.

Value of Obedience
The Ephesians' actions show that obedience to God is more valuable than any earthly possession or practice.

Lists and Questions

Top 10 Lessons from Acts 19

What is the Bible's stance on tarot cards?

What does Wicca entail?

What is Ephesus's biblical significance?

What role do magic arts play in Revelation?

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(19)Many of them also which used curious arts . . .--The Greek word expresses the idea of superstitious arts,overbusy with the supposed secrets of the invisible world. These arts were almost, so to speak, thespecialite of Ephesus. Magicians and astrologers swarmed in her streets (comp. the reference to them as analogous to the magicians at the court of Pharaoh in2Timothy 3:8), and there was a brisk trade in the charms, incantations, books of divination, rules for interpreting dreams, and the like, such as have at all times made up the structure of superstition. The so-called "Ephesian spells" (grammata Ephesia) were small slips of parchment in silk bags, on which were written strange cabalistical words, of little or of lost meaning. The words themselves are given by Clement of Alexandria (Strom. v., c. 46), and he interprets them, though they are so obscure as to baffle the conjectures of philology, as meaning Darkness and Light, the Earth and the Year, the Sun and Truth. They were probably a survival of the old Phrygiancultus of the powers of Nature which had existed prior to the introduction of the Greek name of Artemis.

And burned them before all men.--This, then, was the result of the two sets of facts recorded inActs 19:12;Acts 19:16. The deep-ingrained superstition of the people was treated, as it were, hom?opathically. Charms and names were allowed to be channels of renovation, but were shown to be so by no virtue of their own, but only as beingmedia between the Divine power on the one hand and the faith of the receiver on the other; and so the disease was cured. The student of the history of Florence cannot help recalling the analogous scene in that city, when men and women, artists and musicians, brought the things in which they most delighted--pictures, ornaments, costly dresses--and burnt them in the Piazza of St. Mark at the bidding of Savonarola. The tense of the verb implies that the "burning" was continuous, but leaves it uncertain whether it was an oft-repeated act or one that lasted for some hours. In this complete renunciation of the old evil past we may probably see the secret of the capacity for a higher knowledge which St. Paul recognises as belonging to Ephesus more than to most other churches. (See Note onActs 20:27.)

Fifty thousand pieces of silver.--The coin referred to was the Atticdrachma,usually estimated at about 8�d. of English money, and the total amount answers, accordingly, to 1, 770 17s. 6d., as the equivalent in coin. In its purchasing power, as determined by the prevalent rate of wages (adenarius ordrachma for a day's work), it was probably equivalent to a much larger sum. Such books fetched what might be called "fancy" prices, according to their supposed rareness, or the secrets to which they professed to introduce. Often, it may be, a book was sold as absolutely unique.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 19.- And not a few formany...also, A.V.;that practiced forwhich used A.V.;in the sight of all forbefore all men, A.V.That practiced curious arts (τῶν τὰ περίεργα πραξάντων). The adjectiveπερίεργος applied to persons means "a busybody" (1 Timothy 5:13), one who does what it is not his business to do, and pries into matters with which he has no concern (comp.2 Thessalonians 3:11); applied to things, it means that which it is not anybody's business to attend to, that which is vain and superfluous; and then, by a further extension of meaning, that which is forbidden, and specially magic arts and occult sciences.Fifty thousand pieces of silver. There is a difference of opinion as to what coin or weight is meant. If Greek coinage, which is perhaps natural in a Greek city, fifty thousand drachmae of silver would be meant, equal to £1875, If Jewish shekels are meant, the sum would amount to £7000 ('Speaker's Commentary'). It is in favor of drachmae being meant that, with the exception ofJoshua 7:21 andJudges 17:2, the LXX. always express the word "shekel" or "didrachm" after the numeral and before the word "silver." If St. Luke, therefore, had meant shekels, he would have writtenδίδραχμα ἀργυρίου But it was the Greek usage to omit the wordδραχμή beforeἀργυρίου when the reckoning was by drachmae (Meyer).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

And
δὲ(de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161:A primary particle; but, and, etc.

a number
ἱκανοὶ(hikanoi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2425:From hiko; competent, i.e. Ample or fit.

of those who
τῶν(tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

had practiced
πραξάντων(praxantōn)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 4238:To do, perform, accomplish; be in any condition, i.e. I fare; I exact, require.

magic arts
περίεργα(perierga)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 4021:From peri and ergon; working all around, i.e. Officious.

brought
συνενέγκαντες(synenenkantes)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4851:From sun and phero; to bear together, i.e. to collect, or to conduce; especially advantage.

[their]
τὰς(tas)
Article - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

books
βίβλους(biblous)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 976:Properly, the inner bark of the papyrus plant, i.e. a sheet or scroll of writing.

[and] burned [them]
κατέκαιον(katekaion)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2618:To burn up, consume entirely. From kata and kaio; to burn down, i.e. Consume wholly.

in front of
ἐνώπιον(enōpion)
Preposition
Strong's 1799:Neuter of a compound of en and a derivative of optanomai; in the face of.

everyone.
πάντων(pantōn)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3956:All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

[When]
καὶ(kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.

the
τὰς(tas)
Article - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

value
τιμὰς(timas)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 5092:A price, honor. From tino; a value, i.e. Money paid, or valuables; by analogy, esteem, or the dignity itself.

of [the books]
αὐτῶν(autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Feminine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

was calculated,
συνεψήφισαν(synepsēphisan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4860:To compute, reckon up, count together. From sun and psephizo; to compute jointly.

[it came to]
εὗρον(heuron)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2147:A prolonged form of a primary heuro, which heureo is used for it in all the tenses except the present and imperfect to find.

fifty thousand
πέντε(pente)
Adjective - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 4002:Five. A primary number; 'five'.

drachmas.
ἀργυρίου(argyriou)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 694:Neuter of a presumed derivative of arguros; silvery, i.e. cash; specially, a silverling.

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NT Apostles: Acts 19:19 Many of those who practiced magical arts (Acts of the Apostles Ac)