The burning of these old Ephesian books!',

Back to Treasures from J.R. Miller

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"Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. A number of them who had been practising magic brought their books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars!" Acts 19:18-19

One proof of the power of Christianity, was in the way these new believers at Ephesus renounced their evil ways and gave up their profitable sins. They saw the emptiness and folly of the things in which they had been trusting, and openly confessed the sinful deeds they had been doing. Many of them who had been engaged in the practice of magic arts, brought their books together and made a bonfire of them in the public square.

Always, those who follow Christ should be ready to part with whatever is sinful in their life and work, that Christ may be honoured above all. Sins kept in the heart — poison thelife, hide God's face, and shut out blessing. No matter what it may cost, our sins must be sacrificed, or they will destroy us!

The burning of these old Ephesians books suggests that we should have bonfires of our evil books. There are many books which ought to be burned! They carry in themSatan's poison! To read them is to debauch our own souls. To put them into the hands of others — is to ruin them.


In India, a man took down a book from the shelf — and a viper came out of the book and stung him to death! Just so, there are many books in which deadly vipers lie hidden!We should be most careful in choosing the books we read. A good book is a great blessing — but a bad book is a curse!