Acts 13:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

NIV: But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.

NASB: But Elymas the magician (for so his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

CSB: But Elymas the sorcerer (that is the meaning of his name) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

NLT: But Elymas, the sorcerer (as his name means in Greek), interfered and urged the governor to pay no attention to what Barnabas and Saul said. He was trying to keep the governor from believing.

KJV: But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

NKJV: But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

The proconsul Sergius Paulus has asked Barnabas and Saul to share with him the message they have been teaching in the synagogues throughout the island of Cyprus (Acts 13:5–7). His spiritual advisor, the Jewish false prophet Bar-Jesus, quickly realizes his position is threatened and goes on the defense.

Elymas is the same person as Bar-Jesus, the magician named earlier (Acts 13:6). Scholars debate what "Elymas" means and where it's from. Some say it is from the Greek root word elumas or "wise man." Others say it is Semitic for magos or "magician." Formally, the title indicates someone like the magi in Babylon who performed sorcery and provided information (Matthew 2:2). Luke (Acts 1:1; Luke 1:1) is using it in a more generic sense, since a Jew wouldn't be a priest of the magi.

Juvenal, a Roman satirist, explained that despite its myriad gods and goddesses, religion practiced in the Roman empire had no passion or wonder. Romans often gravitated toward the superstitions and cults of eastern cultures like Egypt, Judea, and Babylon. Charlatans from those areas, like Elymas and the unfortunate exorcists in Acts 19, were happy to take advantage of their spiritual hunger. Despite his attachment to Bar-Jesus, Sergius Paulus is wise enough to recognize the truth when he finally finds it. Saul decisively shuts down Bar-Jesus, and Sergius Paulus believes in Jesus (Acts 13:9–12).

Acts 13:4–12 records the initial stop in Barnabas and Saul's first missionary journey (Acts 13:4—14:26). They sail west from Syrian Antioch to the island of Cyprus: Barnabas' home. As they travel the length of the island, they visit Jewish synagogues to give the Jews the first opportunity to accept Jesus' forgiveness (Romans 1:16), but their work among so many Gentiles impels Saul to make a major change and take on the Roman version of his name: Paul.

Acts 13 transitions Luke's account (Acts 1:1) fully into a record of Paul's ministry to spread the news about Jesus. The Holy Spirit calls Paul and Barnabas for their first missionary journey. They teach about Jesus' offer of forgiveness of sins on the island of Cyprus and in the district of Pisidia in modern-day south-central Asia Minor. Along the way, they face opposition, desertion, and persecution: themes that will follow Paul throughout his life. But they also experience the joy of watching the people they'd least expect come to a saving faith in Jesus.

The first chapters of Acts, save for a quick account of Paul's conversion (Acts 9:1–31), cover the ministry of the apostles, particularly Peter. Those passages also detail the spread of the news about Jesus from His followers. That message goes to the Jews of Jerusalem (Acts 2—7) and Judea (Acts 8:26–40; 9:32–43), the Samaritans (Acts 8:4–25), and God-fearing Gentiles (Acts 10—11). Now, Paul's contribution to the ''end of the earth'' portion of Jesus' commission in Acts 1:8 begins, as he and Barnabas start their first missionary journey. Luke will record two more of Paul's journeys (Acts 15:36—18:22 and 18:23—20:38) before settling in on his return to Jerusalem, arrest, and sea voyage to Rome (Acts 21—28).

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.