Teks -- Acts 19:18 (NET)

19:18 Many of those who had believed came forward, confessing and making their deeds known.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Act 19:18 - Came

Came ( ērchonto ).

Imperfect middle, kept coming, one after another. Even some of the believers were secretly under the spell of these false spiritualists just as some Christians today cherish private contacts with so-called occult powers through mediums, seances, of which they are ashamed.

Robertson: Act 19:18 - Confessing

Confessing ( exomologoumenoi ).

It was time to make a clean breast of it all, to turn on the light, to unbosom their secret habits.

Robertson: Act 19:18 - Declaring their deeds

Declaring their deeds ( anaggellontes tas praxeis autōn ).

Judgment was beginning at the house of God. The dupes (professing believers, alas) of these jugglers or exorcists now had their eyes opened when they saw the utter defeat of the tricksters who had tried to use the name of Jesus without his power. The boomerang was tremendous. The black arts were now laid bare in their real character. Gentile converts had a struggle to shake off their corrupt environment.

Vincent: Act 19:18 - Confessed and shewed

Confessed and shewed ( ἐξομολογούμενοι καὶ ἀναγγέλλοντες )

The two words denote the fullest and most open confession. They openly (ἐξ ) confessed, and declared thoroughly (ἀνά , from top to bottom ) their deeds. See on Mat 3:6.

Wesley: Act 19:18 - Many came confessing

Of their own accord, and openly declaring their deeds - The efficacy of God's word, penetrating the inmost recesses of their soul, wrought that free and open confession to which perhaps even torments would not have compelled them.

JFB: Act 19:18-20 - many that believed came and confessed . . . their deeds

The dupes of magicians, &c., acknowledging how shamefully they had been deluded, and how deeply they had allowed themselves to be implicated in such practices.

Calvin: Act 19:18 - Many which believed

18.Many which believed Luke bringeth forth one token of that fear whereof he spake. For they did indeed declare that they were thoroughly touched and moved with the fear of God, who, of their own accord, did confess the faults and offenses of their former life, lest, through their dissimulation, they should nourish the wrath of God within. We know what a hard matter it is to wring true confession out of those who have offended, for seeing men count nothing more precious than their estimation, they make more account of shame than of truth; yea, so much as in them lieth, they seek to cover their shame. Therefore, this voluntary confession was a testimony of repentance and of fear. For no man, unless he be thoroughly touched, will make himself subject to the slanders and reproaches of men, and will willingly be judged upon earth, that he may be loosed and acquitted in heaven. When he saith, Many, by this we gather that they had not all one cause, for it may be that these men had corrupt consciences a long time; as many are oftentimes infected with hidden and inward vices. Wherefore, Luke doth not prescribe all men a common law; but he setteth before them an example which those must follow who need like medicine. For why did these men confess their facts, save only that they might give testimony of their repentance, and seek counsel and ease at Paul’s hands? It was otherwise with those who came unto the baptism of John, confessing their sins ( Mat 3:6). For by this means they did confess that they did enter into repentance without dissimulation. −

But in this place Luke teacheth by one kind, after what sort the faithful were touched with the reverence of God, when God set before them an example of his severity. For which cause the impudence of the Papists is the greater, who color their tyranny by this fact. For wherein doth their auricular confession agree − ³⁷⁵ with this example? First, the faithful confessed how miserably they had been deceived by Satan before they came to the faith, bringing into the sight of men certain examples. But by the Pope’s law it is required that men reckon up all their words and deeds and thoughts. We read that those men confessed this once; the Pope’s law commandeth that it be repeated every year at least. These men made confession of their own accord; the Pope bindeth all men with necessity. Luke saith there came many, not all; in the Pope’s law there is no exception. These men humbled themselves before the company of the faithful; the Pope giveth a far other commandment, that the sinner confess his sins, whispering in the ear of one priest. − ³⁷⁶ Lo, how well they apply − ³⁷⁷ the Scriptures to prove their subtilities. −

TSK: Act 19:18 - confessed

confessed : Lev 16:21, Lev 26:40; Job 33:27, Job 33:28; Psa 32:5; Pro 28:13; Jer 3:13; Eze 16:63, Eze 36:31; Mat 3:6; Rom 10:10; 1Jo 1:9

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Act 19:18 - Many that believed came // And confessed, and showed their deeds

Many that believed came that believed the power which God alone had over Satan, and were convinced of their sin and danger in being led captive by him.

And confessed, and showed their deeds openly declared their evil deeds. They durst keep the devil’ s counsel no longer, but expose and manifest it, that their sores being laid open, the balm of the gospel might more effectually be put into them. Thus with the mouth confession is made unto salvation, Rom 10:10 .

Haydock: Act 19:18 - Confessing and declaring their deeds

Confessing and declaring their deeds, as penitents do in the sacrament of penance, and not only in general declaring or confessing themselves sinners. See Matthew iii. 6. (Witham)

Gill: Act 19:18 - And many that believed // came // and confessed // and showed their deeds

And many that believed,.... In Jesus Christ, whose name was spoken of with great respect, and which spread fear in every person:

came; to the apostle:

and confessed; their sins; and acknowledged what a wicked life they had led:

and showed their deeds; their former evil deeds, which they had been guilty of; one copy reads, "their sins"; see Mat 3:6.