108. XXXIX. The Burning Of The Books

XXXIX. THE BURNING OF THE BOOKS

Acts 19:19.—“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 fifty thousand pieces of silver.”

It was at Ephesus where the effect of St. Paul’s ministry was thus powerful—and where, therefore, it seems that these magical arts very greatly prevailed.

Now it was at Ephesus that Timothy was residing when St. Paul wrote to him, “But evil men and seducers (γοητες, conjurors) shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived (cheats and cheated); but continue thou in the things which thou hast learned,” &c. (2 Timothy 3:13.) These were the men who dealt in curious arts—the trade of the place in such impostures not having altogether ceased, it should seem, when a bonfire was made of the books [This coincidence is suggested by Dr. Burton’s Bampton Lectures, iv. p. 103.] .