Bible Dictionary
Curious arts
Curious arts were magical practices, charms, and occult formulas used by practitioners in Ephesus. Converts who had practiced them publicly burned their expensive books after receiving the gospel.
Definition
Curious arts were magical practices, charms, spells, and occult formulas associated with practitioners in Ephesus. Their written formulas were used as supposed safeguards against various evils and could be collected in costly books.
Biblical Usage
After hearing the gospel, people in Ephesus who had practiced these arts brought their books together and burned them publicly. The burning demonstrated the abandonment of their former practices.
Historical Background
Ephesus was known for its wizards and so-called Ephesian spells, which were written on scraps of parchment and worn as charms. More powerful formulas circulated in books sold at high prices.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(Acts 19:19), magical arts; jugglery practised by the Ephesian conjurers. Ephesus was noted for its wizard and the “Ephesian spells;” i.e., charms or scraps of parchment written over with certain formula, which were worn as a safeguard against all manner of evils. The more important and powerful of these charms were written out in books which circulated among the exorcists, and were sold at a great price.