Reference: Exorcist
Easton
(Ac 19:13). "In that sceptical and therefore superstitious age professional exorcist abounded. Many of these professional exorcists were disreputable Jews, like Simon in Samaria and Elymas in Cyprus (Ac 8:9; 13:6)." Other references to exorcism as practised by the Jews are found in Mt 12:27; Mr 9:38; Lu 9:49-50. It would seem that it was an opinion among the Jews that miracles might be wrought by invoking the divine name. Thus also these "vagabond Jews" pretended that they could expel daemons.
The power of casting out devils was conferred by Christ on his apostles (Mt 10:8), and on the seventy (Lu 10:17-19), and was exercised by believers after his ascension (Mr 16:17; Ac 16:18); but this power was never spoken of as exorcism.
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Be curing, the sick, raising, the dead, - cleansing, lepers, casting out, demons: freely, ye have, received, freely, give.
And, if, I, in Beelzebul, am casting out the demons, In whom are, your sons, casting them out? Wherefore, they, shall be, judges of you.
John said unto him - Teacher! we saw someone, in thy name, casting out demons, - and we forbade him, because he was not following with us.
But John, answering, said - Master! we saw some one, in thy name, casting out demons, - and we forbade him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said unto him - Do not forbid; for, whosoever is not against you, is, for you.
And the seventy -tworeturned, with joy, saying - Lord! even the demons, submit themselves unto us, in thy name! And he said unto them - I was beholding Satan, when, like lightning, out of heaven, he fell! read more. Lo! I have given you the authority - to be treading upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and, nothing, unto you, shall in anywise do harm;
But, a certain man named Simon, was already in the city, practising magical arts, and astonishing the nation of Samaria, - saying that himself was someone great:
And, passing through the whole island, as far as Paphos, they found a certain man, a magician, a false-prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus;
And, this, she continued to do for many days. But Paul, worn out, and turning unto the spirit, said - I charge thee, in the name of Jesus Christ, to come out from her. And it came out the same hour.
But certain also of the wandering Jews, exorcists, took in hand to be naming, over them that had the wicked spirits, the name of the Lord Jesus, saying - I adjure you, by Jesus whom Paul proclaimeth!
Smith
Exorcist,
one who pretends to expel evil spirits by conjuration, prayers and ceremonies. Exorcism was frequently practiced among the Jews.
David, by playing skillfully on a harp, procured the temporary departure of the evil spirit which troubled Saul.
The power of casting out devils was bestowed by Christ while on earth upon the apostles,
and the seventy disciples
Lu 10:17-19
and was, according to his promise,
exercised by believers after his ascension.
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And so it used to be, when a superhuman spirit came unto Saul, then would David take the lyre, and play with his hand, - and Saul would be refreshed, and be joyful, and, the sad spirit, would depart from him.
Be curing, the sick, raising, the dead, - cleansing, lepers, casting out, demons: freely, ye have, received, freely, give.
And, if, I, in Beelzebul, am casting out the demons, In whom are, your sons, casting them out? Wherefore, they, shall be, judges of you.
And, this, she continued to do for many days. But Paul, worn out, and turning unto the spirit, said - I charge thee, in the name of Jesus Christ, to come out from her. And it came out the same hour.
But certain also of the wandering Jews, exorcists, took in hand to be naming, over them that had the wicked spirits, the name of the Lord Jesus, saying - I adjure you, by Jesus whom Paul proclaimeth!