Acts 19:12
in Acts 19so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and the diseases and evil spirits left them.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
insomuch 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
So 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.
⋯
This verse in Acts 19
Commentary
12 notes on this verse"handkerchiefs or aprons." I think both are linen-like; but the handkerchiefs are placed upon the head, while the aprons are held in the hands by those unable to wear handkerchiefs, such as those who wear secondary garments or sleaves to wipe away the moistures of …
This site's exposition
special miracles by the hands of Paul
on Acts 19:11-12
God works unusual miracles by Paul's hands, so that handkerchiefs and aprons carried from his body to the sick bring healing and drive out evil spirits, a miracle at a distance that parallels Peter's healing shadow at 5:15 in the book's deliberate pairing of the two apostles. Luke's own wording, special, or literally not the usual sort, signals that even the narrator treats this as an extraordinary rather than a typical case, a caution against building an ordinary pattern of ministry on an extraordinary one. The healing power evidently accompanying cloth Paul had touched met a culture already steeped in magical amulets and objects, and the bench reads God's choice of this particular sign as meeting Ephesian expectation on its own terms before overturning it. Signs and wonders in Acts consistently serve the spread of the word rather than becoming spectacles in themselves, and the verses that follow show what happens when someone tries to use the name of Jesus as a technique rather than as an act of faith.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
A commentator
John ChrysostomCATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 19.11-12 · Written in the 5th century.
proposed
What Christ is saying is this, "Whoever believes in me will, in my name, do greater signs than I have done." And these are the greater signs that they did: their shadows raised the dead. Thus was the power of Christ especially proclaimed, since it was not so marvelous that he performed miracles while living, as it was that, when he had died, others were able to do greater than [Christ] in his own name. This itself was the most irrefutable demonstration of the resurrection. He would not, even had he been seen, have been believed to such an extent, since they could have said that he was a phantasm, but should someone see greater signs occur from the mere mention of his name—even when he was among humankind in the flesh—that one, unless terribly shameless, would not have refused to believe.
"So 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." Not touched the wearer only and so were healed, but also receiving them, they laid them upon the sick and so healed them. "He that believeth on Me," saith Christ, "doeth greater works than those which I do." This, and the miracle of the shadows is what He meant in those words. Wonderful, how great the power of them that have believed! Mark the infatuated Jewish hardness. Having seen his garments working miracles, they paid no heed to it. What could be greater than this? But, on the contrary, it resulted in just the opposite effect.
"And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: so 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." Not touched the wearer only and so were healed, but also receiving them, they laid them upon the sick and so healed them. "He that believeth on Me," saith Christ, "doeth greater works than those which I do." This, and the miracle of the shadows is what He meant in those words. And look, no sooner is the trial from those without over, than this from the demons begins. Mark the infatuated Jewish hardness. Having seen his garments working miracles, they paid no heed to it. What could be greater than this? But, on the contrary, it resulted in just the opposite effect. If any of the heathens believe not, having seen the very dust working these effects, let him believe.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Not only at the time when Paul wore "handkerchiefs and aprons" did people touch them, but they also took them away and laid them on the sick. But pay attention to the hardness of heart of the Jews. They were not moved by the fact …
So that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried to the sick. Many of us do not know what aprons signify; however, Gregory, who is now the bishop of the Apostolic See, while he was still an archdeacon, answered a friend …
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Or, if he did, why are they not recorded? Was the success of the gospel, without miracles in the kingdom of nature, itself such a miracle in the kingdom of grace, and the divine power which went along with it such a proof of its divine original, that there needed no other?
So that from his body were brought unto the sick,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Handkerchiefs or aprons - Σουδαρια η σιμικινθια, Probably the sudaria were a sort of handkerchiefs, which, in travelling, were always carried in the hand, for the convenience of wiping the face; and the simikinthia were either the sashes or girdles that went about the loins. These, borrowed from the apostle, and applied to the bodies of the diseased, became the means, in the hand of God, of their restoration to health.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
So that from his body - That is, those handkerchiefs which had been applied to his body, which he had used, or which he had touched. An instance somewhat similar to this occurs in the case of the woman who was healed by touching the hem of the Saviour’s garment, Mat 9:20-22.Unto the sick - The sick who were at a distance, and who were unable to go where he was. If it be asked why this was done, it may be observed: (1) That the working of miracles in that region would greatly contribute to the spread of the gospel. (2) We are not to suppose that there was any efficacy in the aprons thus brought, or in the mere fact that they had touched the body of Paul, anymore than there was in the hem of the Saviour’s garment which the woman touched, or in the clay which he made use of to open the eyes of the blind man, Joh 8:6. (3) In this instance, the fact that the miracles were performed in this manner by garments which had touched his body, was a mere sign, or an evidence to the persons concerned, that it was done by the instrumentality of Paul, as the fact that the Saviour put his fingers into the ears of a deaf man, and spit and touched his tongue Mar 7:33, was an evidence to those who saw it that the power of healing came from him. The bearing of these aprons to the sick was, therefore, merely evidence to all concerned that miraculous power was given to Paul. Handkerchiefs - The word used here σουδάρια soudaria is of Latin origin, and properly denotes “a piece of linen” with which sweat was wiped from the face; and then “any piece of linen used for tying up or containing anything.” In Luk 19:20, it denotes the “napkin” in which the talent of the unprofitable servant was concealed; in Joh 11:44; Joh 20:7, the “napkin” which was used to bind up the face of the dead applied to Lazarus and to our Saviour. Or aprons - σιμικίνθια simikinthia. […]
Modern Voices1 voice
A commentator
Smith Wigglesworth1859–1947
Ever Increasing Faith, Chapter 6: "Himself Took Our Infirmities" (1924)
The Lord is healing many people today by means of handkerchiefs as you read that He healed people in the days of Paul.
The words behind it
25 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὥστε | hoste | so that | G5620 → | 83 times |
| καὶ | kai | even | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐπὶ | epi | to | G1909 → | 883 times |
| τοὺς | tous | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀσθενοῦντας | asthenountas | ailing | G770 → | 33 times |
| ἀποφέρεσθαι | apopheresthai | carrying | G667 → | |
| ἀπὸ | apo | from | G575 → | 640 times |
| τοῦ | tou | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| χρωτὸς | chrotos | skin | G5559 → | |
| αὐτοῦ | autou | of him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| σουδάρια | soudaria | handkerchiefs | G4676 → | |
| ἢ | e | or | G2228 → | 342 times |
| σιμικίνθια | simikinthia | aprons | G4612 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἀπαλλάσσεσθαι | apallassesthai | departing | G525 → | |
| ἀπ᾽ | ap᾽ | from | G575 → | 640 times |
| αὐτῶν | auton | them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| τὰς | tas | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| νόσους | nosous | diseases | G3554 → | |
| τά | ta | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| τε | te | also | G5037 → | 213 times |
| πνεύματα | pneumata | spirits | G4151 → | 378 times |
| τὰ | ta | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πονηρὰ | ponera | evil | G4190 → | 78 times |
| ἐκπορεύεσθαι | ekporeuesthai | coming out | G1607 → | 33 times |
ὥστεso that
hosteG5620 →83 times
καὶeven
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐπὶto
epiG1909 →883 times
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
ἀσθενοῦνταςailing
asthenountasG770 →33 times
ἀποφέρεσθαιcarrying
apopheresthaiG667 →
ἀπὸfrom
apoG575 →640 times
τοῦthe
touG3588 →19766 times
χρωτὸςskin
chrotosG5559 →
αὐτοῦof him
autouG846 →5565 times
σουδάριαhandkerchiefs
soudariaG4676 →
ἢor
eG2228 →342 times
σιμικίνθιαaprons
simikinthiaG4612 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἀπαλλάσσεσθαιdeparting
apallassesthaiG525 →
ἀπ᾽from
ap᾽G575 →640 times
αὐτῶνthem
autonG846 →5565 times
τὰςthe
tasG3588 →19766 times
νόσουςdiseases
nosousG3554 →
τάthe
taG3588 →19766 times
τεalso
teG5037 →213 times
πνεύματαspirits
pneumataG4151 →378 times
τὰ<the>
taG3588 →19766 times
πονηρὰevil
poneraG4190 →78 times
ἐκπορεύεσθαιcoming out
ekporeuesthaiG1607 →33 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Mark 16:17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
it leads to
- Acts 5:16
Crowds also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were healed.
- 1 Corinthians 12:28
And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.
- Luke 10:17
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.”
- Acts 8:7
With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, and many of the paralyzed and lame were healed.
- 1 Corinthians 12:10
to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
- Acts 5:16
Through
Acts 5:15As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.
it leads to
- Matthew 14:36
and begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all who touched Him were healed.
- Acts 19:11–12
God did extraordinary miracles through the hands of Paul,
- John 14:12
Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
- Matthew 14:36
Where this verse is studied
About Acts
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Alexander Maclaren, Expositions of Holy Scripture, Acts; Bede, Retractions on Acts; John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 19.11-12; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 41; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts; Smith Wigglesworth, Ever Increasing Faith, Chapter 6: "Himself Took Our Infirmities" and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.