Acts 19:18

Many believers came, confessing their sins. The verb "believe" likely includes the whole conversion process, including baptism. These believers had made a profession but had an imperfect experience. Confessions were made of wrongdoing, possibly related to occult practices after baptism. The church underwent thorough heart searching under the Spirit. Confessions were probably public, as with John the Baptist's time. They realized misuse of Jesus' name and faced Christ as Judge, their consciences roused to intense activity, coming under Christ's forgiveness and intercession.