Nothing further is known of the Sceva mentioned in this verse. It may be that he actually was a Jewish High Priest, or it may be that he knew the sacred name that was mentioned in the holy place of the Jews.

Who were doing this may need to be rendered as “who were commanding evil spirits to come out.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .