EXORCISM and EXORCIST Rks'O'r-siz'm, eks'or-sisii, (Gr. itopwrr7js, ex-or-kis-tace', he who exacts an oath, Acts xix:13).
The belief in demoniacal possessions, which may be traced in almost every nation, has always been attended by the professed ability, on the part of some individuals, to release the unhappy victims from their calamity. The allusions to the practice of exorcism among the Jews, contained both in their own authors and in the New Testa ment, are too well known to render quotations necessary. In some instances this power was considered as a divine gift ; in others it was thought to be acquired by investigations into the nature of demons and the qualities of natural productions, as herbs, stones, etc., and of drugs compounded of them by the use of certain forms of adjurations, invocations, ceremonies, and other observances. Among all the references to exor cism, as practiced by the Jews, in the New Testa ment (Matt. xii :27; Mark ix :38; Luke ix :49, so), we find only one instance which affords any clue to the means employed (Acts xix :13) ; from which passage it appears that certain professed exorcists took upon them to call over a demoniac the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.' Their pro
ceeding seems to have been in conformity with the well-known opinions of the Jews in those days, that miracles might be wrought by invok ing the names of the Deity, or angels, or pat riarchs, etc. The epithet applied to these exor cists (those traveling about, Vulg. de circumeun tibus Juderis) indicates that they were traveling mountebanks, who, beside skill in medicine, pre- tended to the knowledge of magic. The office of the exorcist is not mentioned by Paul in his enumeration of the miraculous gifts (t Cor. xii: 9) though it was a powcr which he possessed him self, and which the Savior had promised (Mark xvi :17; Matt. x :8). J. F. D.
Among the Reformers opinion and practice were divided respecting exorcism. Luther and Melancthon favored it, but It was decisively re jested by Zwingli and Calvin (Instil. iv. c. 15, 19). (See NfAct.)