Act 19:15 | NETfull | STEP | But the evil spirit replied to them, “I know about Jesus and I am acquainted with Paul, but who are you?”

Acts 19:15

15 But the evil spirit replied to them, ^{▼▼ Grk “answered and said to them.” The expression, redundant in English, has been simplified to “replied.”} “I know about Jesus ^{▼▼ Grk “Jesus I know about.” Here ᾿Ιησοῦν (Iēsoun) is in emphatic position in Greek, but placing the object first is not normal in contemporary English style.} and I am acquainted with ^{▼▼ BDAG 380 s.v. ἐπίσταμαι 2 has “know, be acquainted with τινά…τὸν Παῦλον Ac 19:15.” Here the translation “be acquainted with” was used to differentiate from the previous phrase which has γινώσκω (ginōskō).} Paul, but who are you?” ^{▼▼ But who are you? This account shows how the power of Paul was so distinct that parallel claims to access that power were denied. In fact, such manipulation, by those who did not know Jesus, was judged (v. 16). The indirect way in which the exorcists made the appeal shows their distance from Jesus.}