Act 13:6-12 | RWP | e4.org | Unto Paphos ( αχρ Παφου ). The new Paphos at the other end of the island, reached by a fine Roman road, some eight miles north of the old Paphos famous for the worship of Venus. A certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew ( ανδρα τινα μαγον ψευδοπροφητην Ιουδαιον ). Literally, "a certain man" ( ανδρα τινα ) with various descriptive epithets. The word μαγον does not necessarily mean "sorcerer," but only a μαγυς ( , , which see). The bad sense occurs in , (Simon Magus) and is made plain here by "false prophet." In verse here Barjesus (Son of Jesus) is called "Elymas the sorcerer (or Magian)," probably his professional title, as Luke interprets the Arabic or Aramaic word Elymas. These Jewish mountebanks were numerous and had great influence with the uneducated. In the seven sons of Sceva, Jewish exorcists, tried to imitate Paul. If one is surprised that a man like Sergius Paulus should fall under the influence of this fraud, he should recall what Juvenal says of the Emperor Tiberius "sitting on the rock of Capri with his flock of Chaldaeans around him."

‏ Acts 13:6-12

Unto Paphos ( αχρ Παφου ). The new Paphos at the other end of the island, reached by a fine Roman road, some eight miles north of the old Paphos famous for the worship of Venus.

A certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew ( ανδρα τινα μαγον ψευδοπροφητην Ιουδαιον ). Literally, "a certain man" ( ανδρα τινα ) with various descriptive epithets. The word μαγον does not necessarily mean "sorcerer," but only a μαγυς (Mt 2:1, 7, 10 which see). The bad sense occurs in Ac 8:9, 11 (Simon Magus) and is made plain here by "false prophet." In verse 8 here Barjesus (Son of Jesus) is called "Elymas the sorcerer (or Magian)," probably his professional title, as Luke interprets the Arabic or Aramaic word Elymas. These Jewish mountebanks were numerous and had great influence with the uneducated. In Ac 19:13 the seven sons of Sceva, Jewish exorcists, tried to imitate Paul. If one is surprised that a man like Sergius Paulus should fall under the influence of this fraud, he should recall what Juvenal says of the Emperor Tiberius "sitting on the rock of Capri with his flock of Chaldaeans around him."

With the proconsul Sergius Paulus ( συν τω ανθυπατω Σεργιω Παυλω ). Luke used to be sharply criticized for applying this term to Sergius Paulus on the ground that Cyprus was a province under the appointment of the emperor with the title of propraetor and not under the control of the senate with the title of proconsul. That was true B.C. 30, but five years later it was changed to proconsul by Augustus and put under the control of the Senate. Two inscriptions have been found with the date A.D. 51 and 52 with the names of proconsuls of Cyprus and one is in the Cesnola Collection, an inscription found at Soli with the name of Paulus as Proconsul, undoubtedly this very man, though no date occurs.

A man of understanding ( ανδρ συνετω ). All the more amazing that he should be a victim of Barjesus. He had given up idolatry at any rate and was eager to hear Barnabas and Saul.

Withstood them ( ανθιστατο αυτοις ). Imperfect middle of ανθιστημ, to stand against (face to face). Dative case ( αυτοις ). He persisted in his opposition and was unwilling to lose his great prize. There may have been a public discussion between Elymas and Saul.

To turn aside ( διαστρεψα ). First aorist active infinitive of διαστρεφω, old verb to turn or twist in two, to distort, to pervert (cf. Mt 17:17; Lu 23:2).

But Saul, who is also called Paul ( Σαυλος δε, ο κα Παυλος ). By this remarkably brief phrase Luke presents this epoch in the life of Saul Paul. The "also" ( κα ) does not mean that the name Paul was given now for the first time, rather than he had always had it. As a Jew and a Roman citizen, he undoubtedly had both names all the time (cf. John Mark, Symeon Niger, Barsabbas Justus). Jerome held that the name of Sergius Paulus was adopted by Saul because of his conversion at this time, but this is a wholly unlikely explanation, "an element of vulgarity impossible to St. Paul " (Farrar). Augustine thought that the meaning of the Latin paulus (little) would incline Saul to adopt, "but as a proper name the word rather suggested the glories of the Aemilian family, and even to us recalls the name of another Paulus, who was 'lavish of his noble life'" (Page). Among the Jews the name Saul was naturally used up to this point, but from now on Luke employs Paul save when there is a reference to his previous life (Ac 22:7; 26:14). His real career is work among the Gentiles and Paul is the name used by them. There is a striking similarity in sound between the Hebrew Saul and the Roman Paul. Paul was proud of his tribe of Benjamin and so of King Saul (Php 3:5).

Filled with the Holy Spirit ( πλησθεις πνευματος αγιου ). First aorist (ingressive) passive participle of πιμπλημ with the genitive case. A special influx of power to meet this emergency. Here was a cultured heathen, typical of the best in Roman life, who called forth all the powers of Paul plus the special help of the Holy Spirit to expose the wickedness of Elymas Barjesus. If one wonders why the Holy Spirit filled Paul for this emergency rather than Barnabas, when Barnabas was named first in 13:2, he can recall the sovereignty of the Holy Spirit in his choice of agents (1Co 12:4-11) and also the special call of Paul by Christ (Ac 9:15; 26:17f.).

Fastened his eyes ( ατενισας ). As already in Lu 4:20; 22:56; Ac 3:4, 12; 6:15; 10:4.

Of all guile ( παντος δολου ). From δελω, to catch with bait, old word, already seen in Mt 26:4; Mr 7:22; 14:1. Paul denounces Elymas as a trickster.

All villainy ( πασης ραιδιουργιας ). Late compound from ραιδιουργος ( ραιδιος, easy, facile, εργον, deed, one who does a thing adroitly and with ease). So levity in Xenophon and unscrupulousness in Polybius, Plutarch, and the papyri. Only here in the N.T., though the kindred word ραιδιουργημα occurs in Ac 18:14. With deadly accuracy Paul pictured this slick rascal.

Thou son of the devil ( υιε διαβολου ). Damning phrase like that used by Jesus of the Pharisees in Joh 8:44, a slanderer like the διαβολος. This use of son ( υιος ) for characteristic occurs in Ac 3:25; 4:36, a common Hebrew idiom, and may be used purposely by Paul in contrast with the name Barjesus (son of Jesus) that Elymas bore (13:6).

Enemy of all righteousness ( εχθρε πασης δικαιοσυνης ). Personal enemy to all justice, sums up all the rest. Note triple use of "all" ( παντοσ, πασησ, πασης ), total depravity in every sense.

Wilt thou not cease? ( ου παυση ). An impatient rhetorical question, almost volitive in force (Robertson, Grammar, p. 874). Note ου, not μη,

To pervert ( διαστρεφων ). Present active participle describing the actual work of Elymas as a perverter or distorter (see verse 8). More exactly, Wilt thou not cease perverting?

The right ways of the Lord ( τας οδους του κυριου τας ευθειας ). The ways of the Lord the straight ones as opposed to the crooked ways of men (Isa 40:4; 42:16; Lu 3:5). The task of John the Baptist as of all prophets and preachers is to make crooked paths straight and to get men to walk in them. This false prophet was making even the Lord's straight ways crooked. Elymas has many successors.

Upon thee ( επ σε ). The use of επ with the accusative is rich and varied, the precise shade of meaning depending on the content. The "hand of the Lord" might be kindly (Ac 11:21) or hostile (Heb 10:31), but when God's hand touches one's life (Job 19:21) it may be in judgment as here with Elymas. He has not humbled himself under the mighty hand of God (1Pe 5:6).

Not seeing ( μη βλεπων ). Repeating with negative participle the negative idea in "blind" ( τυφλος ). "It was a judicial infliction; blindness for blindness, darkness without for wilful darkness within" (Furneaux). He was an example of the blind leading the blind that was to cease and Sergius Paulus was to be led into the light. The blindness was to be "for a season" ( αχρ καιρου, Lu 4:13), if it should please God to restore his sight. Paul apparently recalls his own blindness as he entered Damascus.

A mist ( αχλυς ). Especially a dimness of the eyes, old poetic word and late prose, in LXX, only here in N.T. Galen uses it of the opacity of the eye caused by a wound.

He went about seeking some one to lead him by the hand ( περιαγων εζητε χειραγωγους ). A rather free rendering. Literally, "going about ( περιαγων, present active participle of περιαγω ) he was seeking ( εζητε, imperfect active of ζητεω ) guides ( χειραγωγους, from χειρ, hand, and αγωγος, guide, from αγω, one who leads by the hand)." The very verb χειραγωγεω, to lead by the hand, Luke uses of Paul in 9:8, as he entered Damascus.

Believed ( επιστευσεν ). Ingressive aorist active indicative. Renan considers it impossible that a Roman proconsul could be converted by a miracle. But it was the teaching about the Lord ( του κυριου, objective genitive) by which he was astonished ( εκπλησσομενος, present passive participle of εκπλησσω, see on Mt 7:28) or struck out as well as by the miracle. The blindness came "immediately" ( παραερημα ) upon the judgment pronounced by Paul. It is possible that Sergius Paulus was converted to Christ without openly identifying himself with the Christians as his baptism is not mentioned as in the case of Cornelius. But, even if he was baptized, he need not have been deposed from his proconsulship as Furneaux and Rackham argue because his office called for "official patronage of idolatrous worship." But that could have been merely perfunctory as it probably was already. He had been a disciple of the Jewish magician, Elymas Barjesus, without losing his position. Imperial persecution against Christianity had not yet begun. Furneaux even suggests that the conversion of a proconsul to Christianity at this stage would have called for mention by the Roman and Greek historians. There is the name Sergia Paullina in a Christian cemetery in Rome which shows that one of his family was a Christian later. One will believe what he wills about Sergius Paulus, but I do not see that Luke leaves him in the category of Simon Magus who "believed" (8:13) for revenue only.