Genuine Repentance and the Power of God’s Word

Acts 19:18–20 (NASB95) 

18Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices. 19And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing. 

In this passage, we see a remarkable display of repentance and transformation among the believers in Ephesus. Those who had already come to faith openly confessed their past deeds, including their involvement in magic and sorcery. This public confession signified a complete break from their old lives and practices, which were incompatible with their new faith in Jesus. Additionally, many of those who practiced magic demonstrated their repentance by bringing their valuable scrolls of spells and burning them publicly—an act of both personal sacrifice and bold repudiation of their former ways. The value of the books, worth fifty thousand silver pieces, underscores the depth of their commitment to Jesus and their willingness to forsake worldly wealth and power for the sake of the Gospel. This dramatic event not only reflects the power of the Holy Spirit to convict hearts but also highlights how the Word of the Lord spread and grew mightily as lives were transformed. 

This challenges us to examine our own lives for anything that may be incompatible with our faith in Jesus. Genuine repentance requires more than simply turning away from sin—it requires a willingness to publicly acknowledge and forsake anything that hinders our walk with God, even at great personal cost. For the modern church, this also serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing hidden sins, such as reliance on worldly power, superstitions, or other practices that conflict with our faith. Like the believers in Ephesus, we are called to trust fully in the power of God and His Word, allowing it to transform our lives and communities. Let us commit to living transparently, confessing our sins, and fully surrendering to Jesus, so that His Word may continue to grow mightily in and through us.