And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, a chief priest, who did this.
and there were certain--seven sons of Sceva, a Jew, a chief priest--who are doing this thing;
And there were certain [men], seven sons of Sceva, Jewish high priest, who were doing this.
Acts — The Gospel's sequel. Jerusalem → Judea and Samaria → the ends of the earth. Three missionary journeys and the voyage to Rome.
Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread — the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.
Voices4
Neither is every one that prophesies holy, nor every one that casts out devils religious: for even Balaam the son of Beor the prophet did prophesy, though he was himself ungodly; as also did Caiaphas, the falsely-named high priest. Nay, the devil foretells many things, and the demons, about Him; and yet for all that, there is not a spark of piety in them: for they are oppressed with ignorance, by reason of their voluntary wickedness.
Apostolic Constitutions· Constitutions of the Holy Apostles Book 8, 380patristic
And there were seven sons of one Sceva a Jew,....
John Gill· Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)reformed
Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests - The original Ιουδαιου αρχιερεως, dignifies a Jewish high priest; but it is not probable that any sons, much less seven sons of a Jewish high priest, should be strolling exorcists: it is therefore likely that υἱοι Σκευα τινος ἱερεως, the sons of Skeva, a certain priest, as it stands in the Codex Bezae, is the true reading.
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible, 1832evangelical
The confusion they were put to in their impious operations. Let them not be deceived, God is not mocked, nor shall the glorious name of Jesus be prostituted to such a vile purpose as this; what communion hath Christ with Belial?
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1710puritan
