![]() ![]() When the proconsul began to listen to the missionaries’ message, Elymas “tried to turn the proconsul from the faith” (verse 8). This sorcerer, also called Elymas, had wormed his way into the political establishment of Cyprus. ![]() As Paul and Barnabas (and Mark) were preaching in that city, they were opposed by “a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus” (Acts 13:6–7). The city of Paphos on the island of Cyprus was another battleground between the miraculous and the magical. The worker of miracles simply showcases the power and glory of God. The magician attempts to manipulate people for personal gain. Peter immediately rebukes Simon in Simon’s sinful heart, he had equated the power of the Holy Spirit with his own sorcery (verses 20–23).Īnother difference between magic and miracles is that magic involves manipulation and opposition to the truth but miracles reveal the truth. Later, Simon the magician sees a true miracle performed by Peter and John, and he offers to buy from them the “secret” to their trick (verses 18–19). Simon’s performances were all about himself and enriching his own life. Simon had the ability to amaze the crowds with his magic, but it was not the power of God. Note that Simon was boastful about his “power” and went by a blasphemous title. He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, ‘This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.’ They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery” (Acts 8:9–11). “A man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. A good example of a magician’s self-promotion is found in Samaria. So, in Ephesus, there was a clear contrast between the miracles of God and the magic of the devil, which is sorcery.Īnother difference between magic and miracles is that magic does not glorify God, but miracles do (see Mark 2:12). And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver” (Acts 19:19, ESV). When a large number of Ephesians were saved through the preaching of Paul and Silas, the new believers destroyed their books of witchcraft: “A number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. Seeing what Paul did, some exorcists (the seven sons of Sceva) attempted to duplicate his miracles, but they failed miserably and publicly (verses 13–16). The pagan population of Ephesus was steeped in idolatry and involved in magic, but then Paul brought the gospel to that city, and with the gospel came true power through the apostle: “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul” (Acts 19:11). The city of Ephesus was a battleground between magic and miracles. Magic is an attempt to circumvent God in the acquisition of knowledge or power. Of course, the Antichrist will claim that his power comes from God, but that is a lie, too (see Revelation 13:2).Ī major difference between magic and miracles is that magic draws upon power that is not directly from God, and miracles are the result of God’s power intervening in the world. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie.” This type of magic, sometimes spelled magick to distinguish it from sleight-of-hand, is associated with divination, conjuring, and sorcery and is condemned in Scripture (see Deuteronomy 18:10–12). The Antichrist’s coming “will be in accordance with how Satan works. The Bible speaks of “lying wonders” in 2 Thessalonians 2:9. The other kind of magic is what some might call “real” magic it draws on occult, demonic power. An illusionist’s audience does not consider what they see to be “real” magic they understand it is a trick, and they delight in the fact they cannot figure out how the trick is done. Entertainers who use sleight-of-hand and illusions in their performance are often called “magicians,” but they are actually illusionists, which is what most of them prefer to be called. There are two different kinds of “magic,” and it is good to distinguish between the two. ![]() Basically, magic and miracles differ in their source: magic has either a human or demonic source, but miracles are a supernatural work of God. It is proper to say that Jesus worked miracles, but it would be wrong to attribute His works to magic. Magic and miracles might mean the same thing to some people, but there is actually a vast difference between the two terms. ![]()
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