| Geneva Study Bible Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it {i} fifty thousand pieces of silver. (i) Those that give the lowest estimate, reckon it to be about eight hundred pounds English. People's New Testament 19:19 Brought their books together, and burned them. There was real repentance, and they brought forth its fruits. These books, alluded to by ancient writers, were manuscript volumes of charms, incantations, recipes for love philters, and other things of similar character. They counted the price of them. If the piece of silver is the Attic drachma or Roman denarius, as is probable (about sixteen cents), the whole value would be about USD8,000. These books had considerable money value on account of their rarity. Wesley's Notes 19:19 Curious arts - Magical arts, to which that soft appellation was given by those who practised them. Ephesus was peculiarly famous for these. And as these practices were of so much reputation there, it is no wonder the books which taught them should bear a great price. Bringing their books together - As it were by common consent, burnt them - Which was far better than selling them, even though the money had been given to the poor. Fifty thousand pieces of silver - If these pieces of silver be taken for Jewish shekels, the sum will amount to six thousand two hundred and fifty pounds. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 19. Many of them . which used curious arts-The word signifies things "overdone"; significantly applied to arts in which laborious but senseless incantations are practiced. brought their books-containing the mystic formularies. and burned them before all-The tense, here used graphically, expresses progress and continuance of the conflagration. counted the price . and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver-about £2000 (presuming it to be the drachma, the current coin of the Levant, of about 10d. value). From their nature they would be costly, and books then bore a value above any standard we are familiar with. The scene must have been long remembered at Ephesus, as a strong proof of honest conviction on the part of the sorcerers and a striking triumph of Jesus Christ over the powers of darkness. The workers of evil were put to scorn, like Baal's priests on Carmel, and the word of God mightily grew and prevailed [Howson]. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 19:13-20 It was common, especially among the Jews, for persons to profess or to try to cast out evil spirits. If we resist the devil by faith in Christ, he will flee from us; but if we think to resist him by the using of Christ's name, or his works, as a spell or charm, Satan will prevail against us. Where there is true sorrow for sin, there will be free confession of sin to God in every prayer and to man whom we have offended, when the case requires it. Surely if the word of God prevailed among us, many lewd, infidel, and wicked books would be burned by their possessors. Will not these Ephesian converts rise up in judgement against professors, who traffic in such works for the sake of gain, or allow themselves to possess them? If we desire to be in earnest in the great work of salvation, every pursuit and enjoyment must be given up which hinders the effect of the gospel upon the mind, or loosens its hold upon the heart. | 
