Acts 19:19

French S21 2007 (Bible Segond 21)

Un grand nombre de ceux qui avaient pratiqué la magie apportèrent leurs livres et les brûlèrent devant tout le monde. On en estima la valeur à 50'000 pièces d'argent.

What Does This Mean?

This verse from Acts tells us about people who used magic tricks and spells burning their books because they turned away from those practices after believing in Jesus. They burned these books publicly and counted the value of what they were giving up, finding it to be worth fifty thousand pieces of silver.

Explained for Children

Imagine if you had a bunch of toys that you really liked but then you found out about an even better toy called Jesus. You might want to get rid of your old toys by burning them and showing everyone how much you care about the new, better toy! That's kind of what happened here.

Historical Background

The book of Acts was written by Luke, a doctor and companion of Paul, around 60-80 AD. It describes the early church's growth after Jesus' resurrection. This particular passage is set in Ephesus where many people were turning to Christianity from their previous practices involving magic.

Living It Out Today

In today’s context, this verse can encourage believers to rid themselves of anything that distracts them from following Christ, be it unhealthy habits or material things that hold too much importance. For example, someone might decide to sell old gaming consoles and donate the money to a charity as a sign of their commitment.

Topics

• conversion
• sacrifice
• repentance
• faith
• idolatry
• public witness

Related Verses

• Isaiah 47:9
• 1 Corinthians 3:15
• Revelation 21:8
• Ephesians 2:1-3
• Matthew 6:24

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did they burn their magical books?

They burned these books as a symbol of renouncing their old practices and showing commitment to their new belief in Jesus, signifying a complete turn from magic to Christianity.

What does the monetary value signify here?

The fact that they counted the price of the books highlights the significant personal cost associated with their decision, emphasizing how deeply they valued their conversion.

How is this practice relevant today?

This verse encourages believers to let go of anything distracting from their faith in a public and decisive way, just as burning the magical books was a public declaration of turning away from old practices.

What other forms can public repentance take today?

Today's public repentance might involve donating money saved by giving up harmful habits to charity or publicly acknowledging past wrongdoings and seeking forgiveness, much like the burning act symbolized renunciation of their old ways.