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Contemporary English Version

Acts 19:12

People even took handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched Paul's body, and they carried them to everyone who was sick. All of the sick people were healed, and the evil spirits went out.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Demons;   Handkerchief;   Miracles;   Paul;   Thompson Chain Reference - Apostles;   Aprons;   Demons;   Devils;   Disciples;   Disease;   Evil;   Exorcists;   Handkerchiefs;   Heal, Apostles;   Healed, Disease;   Healing;   Health-Disease;   Holy Spirit;   Miracles;   Power;   Satan;   Satan-Evil Spirits;   Sickness;   Virtue, Healing;   Weakness-Power;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Miracles Wrought through Servants of God;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Garments;   Miracle;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Asia;   Ephesus;   Mission;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Touch;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Ordination;   Relics;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Apron;   Handkerchief;   Napkin;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Handkerchief;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Acts;   Apron;   Church;   Handkerchief;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Bible;   Corinthians, Second Epistle to;   Dress;   Evil Spirits;   Exorcism;   Handkerchiefs,;   Miracles;   Napkin;   Spiritual Gifts;   Vagabond;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Apron;   Body;   Demon;   Handkerchief Napkin;   Miracles;   Name (2);   Napkin (2);   Shadow ;   Sickness;   Wicked (2);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Apron;   Ephesians, Epistle to the;   Handkerchief;   42 Evil Wicked;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Ephesians;   Ephesus;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Handkerchief, Napkin, Apron;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Saul of Tarsus;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Apron;   Body;   Carry;   Demon;   Dress;   Handkerchief;   Healing, Gifts of;   Spiritual Gifts;   Sweat;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
so that even facecloths or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them.
King James Version (1611)
So that from his body were brought vnto the sicke handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the euill spirits went out of them.
King James Version
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.
English Standard Version
so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.
New American Standard Bible
so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out.
New Century Version
Some people took handkerchiefs and clothes that Paul had used and put them on the sick. When they did this, the sick were healed and evil spirits left them.
Amplified Bible
so that even handkerchiefs or face-towels or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out [of them].
New American Standard Bible (1995)
so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out.
Legacy Standard Bible
so that cloths or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out.
Berean Standard Bible
so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and the diseases and evil spirits left them.
Complete Jewish Bible
For instance, handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were brought to sick people; they would recover from their ailments; and the evil spirits would leave them.
Darby Translation
so that even napkins or aprons were brought from his body [and put] upon the sick, and the diseases left them, and the wicked spirits went out.
Easy-to-Read Version
Some people carried away handkerchiefs and clothes that Paul had used and put them on those who were sick. The sick people were healed, and evil spirits left them.
Geneva Bible (1587)
So that from his body were brought vnto the sicke, kerchefs or handkerchefs, and the diseases departed from them, and the euill spirits went out of them.
George Lamsa Translation
So that even when, of the clothes on his body, pieces of garments were brought and laid upon the sick, diseases were cured, and even the insane were restored.
Good News Translation
Even handkerchiefs and aprons he had used were taken to the sick, and their diseases were driven away, and the evil spirits would go out of them.
Lexham English Bible
so that even handkerchiefs or work aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to those who were sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.
Literal Translation
so as even handkerchiefs or aprons from his skin to be brought onto those sick, and the diseases to be released from them, and the evil spirits to go out from them.
American Standard Version
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.
Bible in Basic English
So that bits of linen and clothing from his body were taken to people who were ill, and their diseases went away from them and the evil spirits went out.
Hebrew Names Version
so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick, and the evil spirits went out.
International Standard Version
When the handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched his skin were taken to the sick, their diseases left them, and the evil spirits went out of them.2 Kings 4:29; Acts 5:15;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
so that they brought even from the garments that were upon his body napkins or wrappings, and laid them upon the sick, and the diseases went from them; and demons also went forth.
Murdock Translation
so that, from the clothes on his body, napkins and rags were carried and laid upon the sick, and the diseases left them, and demons also went out.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
So that from his body, were brought vnto the sicke, napkins, and partlettes, and the diseases departed from them, & the euyll spirites went out of them.
English Revised Version
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.
World English Bible
so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick, and the evil spirits went out.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
So that handkerchiefs or aprons were carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits came out of them.
Weymouth's New Testament
Towels or aprons, for instance, which Paul had handled used to be carried to the sick, and they recovered from their ailments, or the evil spirits left them.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
so that on sijk men the sudaries weren borun fro his bodye, and sijknessis departiden fro hem, and wickid spiritis wenten out.
Update Bible Version
insomuch that to the sick were carried away from his body handkerchiefs or aprons, and the evil spirits went out.
Webster's Bible Translation
So that from his body were brought to the sick, handkerchiefs, or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
New English Translation
so that when even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his body were brought to the sick, their diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.
New King James Version
so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.
New Living Translation
When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled.
New Life Bible
Pieces of cloth and parts of his clothes that had been next to his body were put on sick people. Then they were healed of their diseases and demons came out of them.
New Revised Standard
so that when the handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, their diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
so that, even unto the sick, were being carried from his body, handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases were departing from them, and, the wicked spirits, were going out.
Douay-Rheims Bible
So that even there were brought from his body to the sick, handkerchiefs and aprons: and the diseases departed from them: and the wicked spirits went out of them.
Revised Standard Version
so that handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick, and diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
so that from his body were brought vnto the sicke napkyns or partlettes and the diseases departed from the and the evyll spretes went out of them.
Young's Literal Translation
so that even unto the ailing were brought from his body handkerchiefs or aprons, and the sicknesses departed from them; the evil spirits also went forth from them.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
so that from his body there were broughte napkyns or partlettes vnto the sicke, and the diseases departed from them, and the euell spretes wente out of them.
Mace New Testament (1729)
or aprons that had touch'd his skin, to the distemper'd, they were cured, and the evil spirits came out of the possessed.
Simplified Cowboy Version
If a wild rag or even a scarf touched Paul, they could take that item and heal the sick with it. These items Paul touched also had the power to kick demons out of good folks.

Contextual Overview

8 For three months Paul went to the Jewish meeting place and talked bravely with the people about God's kingdom. He tried to win them over, 9 but some of them were stubborn and refused to believe. In front of everyone they said terrible things about God's Way. Paul left and took the followers with him to the lecture hall of Tyrannus. He spoke there every day 10 for two years, until every Jew and Gentile in Asia had heard the Lord's message. 11 God gave Paul the power to work great miracles. 12 People even took handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched Paul's body, and they carried them to everyone who was sick. All of the sick people were healed, and the evil spirits went out.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Acts 5:15, 2 Kings 4:29-31, 2 Kings 13:20, 2 Kings 13:21

Reciprocal: Zechariah 8:23 - take Matthew 9:2 - they brought Matthew 9:20 - touched Matthew 9:21 - If Matthew 14:36 - only Matthew 15:30 - great Mark 3:10 - pressed Mark 5:27 - touched Mark 16:17 - In Mark 16:18 - they shall lay Luke 4:36 - What Luke 4:40 - and he Luke 6:19 - sought Luke 8:29 - commanded Luke 8:44 - touched John 14:12 - greater Acts 14:3 - granted Acts 16:18 - I command Acts 28:8 - laid Romans 15:19 - mighty 1 Corinthians 12:9 - the gifts Galatians 2:8 - the same Galatians 3:5 - worketh Hebrews 2:4 - God

Cross-References

Genesis 7:1
The Lord told Noah: Take your whole family with you into the boat, because you are the only one on this earth who pleases me.
Genesis 19:14
Lot went to the men who were engaged to his daughters and said, "Hurry and get out of here! The Lord is going to destroy this city." But they thought he was joking, and they laughed at him.
Genesis 19:17
When they were outside, one of the angels said, "Run for your lives! Don't even look back. And don't stop in the valley. Run to the hills, where you will be safe."
Genesis 19:22
Hurry! Run! I can't do anything until you are safely there." The town was later called Zoar because Lot had said it was small.
Genesis 19:23
The sun was coming up as Lot reached the town of Zoar,
Numbers 16:26
Then Moses warned the people, "Get away from the tents of these sinful men! Don't touch anything that belongs to them or you'll be wiped out."
Jeremiah 32:39
I will make their thoughts and desires pure. Then they will realize that, for their own good and the good of their children, they must worship only me. They will even be afraid to turn away from me. I will make an agreement with them that will never end, and I won't ever stop doing good things for them. With all my heart I promise that they will be planted in this land once again.
2 Peter 2:7
Lot lived right and was greatly troubled by the terrible way those wicked people were living. He was a good man, and day after day he suffered because of the evil things he saw and heard. So the Lord rescued him.
2 Peter 2:9
This shows that the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their sufferings and to punish evil people while they wait for the day of judgment.
Revelation 18:4
Then I heard another voice from heaven shout, "My people, you must escape from Babylon. Don't take part in her sins and share her punishment.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

So that from his body were brought unto the sick,.... The Ethiopic version renders it, "from the extremity", or "border of his garment"; and the Syriac version, "from the garments which were upon his body"; were brought and put upon the sick; that is, of the clothes which the apostle wore, some of them were taken and carried to sick persons, and used by them: particularly "handkerchiefs" or "aprons"; the former were such as he might use to wipe his face with, and remove sweat, or any filth from the body; and the latter, what he might wear as a mechanic, when working at his trade:

and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them; who were afflicted and possessed with them; these were some of the special and uncommon miracles wrought by the hands of the apostle, and which were wrought in an uncommon way; and which most clearly showed that they were wrought by a divine power.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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, Matthew 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, John 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 Mark 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 Luke 19:20, it denotes the “napkin” in which the talent of the unprofitable servant was concealed; in John 11:44; John 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. This is also Latin word, and means literally a half girdle, or covering half the person a piece of cloth which was girded round the waist to preserve the clothes of those who were engaged in any kind of work. The word “aprons” expresses the idea.

And the diseases departed - The sick were healed.

And the evil spirits - See the notes on Matthew 4:24. It is evident that this power of working miracles would contribute greatly to Paul’s success among the people.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 19:12. 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.

The diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. — Here, there is a most evident distinction made between the diseases and the evil spirits: hence they were not one and the same thing.


 
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