{Of the strolling Jews, exorcists} (	(936e) perierchomen(936e)
Ioudai(936e) exorkist(936e)). These exorcists travelled around (peri)
from place to place like modern Gypsy fortune-tellers. The Jews
were especially addicted to such practices with spells of sorcery
connected with the name of Solomon (Josephus, _Ant_. VIII. 2.5).
See also Tobit 8:1-3. Jesus alludes to those in Palestine ( Mt
12:27  Lu 11:19 ). The exorcists were originally those who
administered an oath (from exorkiz(935c), to exact an oath), then to
use an oath as a spell or charm. Only instance here in the N.T.
These men regarded Paul as one of their own number just as Simon
Magus treated Simon Peter. Only here these exorcists paid Paul
the compliment of imitation instead of offering money as Magus
did. {To name over} (onomazein epi). They heard what Paul said
and treated his words as a magic charm or spell to drive the evil
spirits out. {I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth}
(Horkiz(9320)humas ton I(8873)oun hon Paulos k(8872)ussei). Note two
accusatives with the verb of swearing (cf.  Mr 5:7 ) as a
causative verb (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 483). The papyri furnish
numerous instances of horkiz(935c) in such constructions (Deissmann,
_Bible Studies_, p. 281). Note also the article with Jesus, "the
Jesus," as if to identify the magic word to the demons with the
addition "whom Paul preaches." They thought that success turned
on the correct use of the magical formula. The Ephesian mysteries
included Christianity, so they supposed.