Category:Exorcist

Ex"or*cist, n. Etym: [L. exorcista, Gr. exorciste.]

1. One who expels evil spirits by conjuration or exorcism. Certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists. Acts 19:13.

2. A conjurer who can raise spirits. [R.] Thou, like an exorcist, hast conjured up My mortified spirit. Shak.

---excerpt from the Illustrated Bible Dictionary.

Exorcist - (Acts 19:13). "In that skeptical and therefore superstitious age professional exorcist abounded. Many of these professional exorcists were disreputable Jews, like Simon in Samaria and Elymas in Cyprus (Acts 8:9; Acts 13:6)." Other references to exorcism as practiced by the Jews are found in Matthew 12:27; Mark 9:38; Luke 9:49, Luke 9:50. It would seem that it was an opinion among the Jews] that miracles might be wrought by invoking the divine name. Thus also these "vagabond Jews" pretended that they could expel demons. The power of casting out devils was conferred by Christ on His apostles (Matthew 10:8), and on the seventy (Luke 10:17), and was exercised by believers after His Ascension (Mark 16:17; Acts 16:18); but this power was never spoken of as exorcism.