Acts 13:8
in Acts 13But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith.
KJV
But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
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This verse in Acts 13
Commentary
11 notes on this verseMany attempts were also wrought against the apostles by the sorcerers Simon and Elymas, but the blindness which struck (them) was no enchanter's trick.
This site's exposition
found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew
on Acts 13:6-8
Working through the isle to Paphos, the missionaries meet a very different kind of religious figure, found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew attached to the court of Sergius Paulus, the Roman deputy of Cyprus, a title an inscription found on the island confirms was the correct one for the office at exactly this period. Sergius Paulus himself is called a prudent man who desired to hear the word of God, a Roman official open to the gospel rather than hostile to it. The sorcerer, known by the Greek name Elymas, withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith, setting magic and message against each other at the very point a ruler was ready to believe.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus: which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith." Again a Jew sorcerer, as was Simon. And observe this man, how, while they preached to the others, he did not take it much amiss, but only when they approached the proconsul. And then in respect of the proconsul the wonder is, that although prepossessed by the man's sorcery, he was nevertheless willing to hear the Apostles. So it was with the Samaritans: and from the competition the victory appears, the sorcery being worsted. Everywhere, vainglory and love of power are a (fruitful) source of evils!
The Medieval Church2 voices
However, Elymas the magician (for so his name is interpreted) withstood them, seeking to turn away the proconsul from the faith. And this too is more in the Greek: Because he was gladly listening to them.
But pay attention also to the sorcerer: when the apostles were preaching to the other people, he was not very indignant; but he became especially indignant when they came to the proconsul.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
But Elymas the sorcerer, for so is his name by interpretation,.... Not that Magus a sorcerer is by interpretation Elymas; as if Luke was interpreting the Persic word "Magus", which is sometimes used in a good sense, for a wise man, as in Mat 2:1 by an Arabic word "Elim", which signifies knowing; but "Elymas" is the interpretation of his name "Bar-jesus"; which as that signifies the son of salvation, or of healing, so this, as De Dieu observes, may be derived from חלם, "Chalam", which signifies "to heal", or to be sound and in health.
The heads of a sermon which Paul preached to the Jews at Antioch in Pisidia, in their synagogue, which is given us as a specimen of what they usually preached to the Jews, and the method they took with them,
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Note, Satan is in a special manner busy with great men and men of power, to keep them from being religious; because he knows that their example, whether good or bad, will have an influence upon many. And those who are in any way instrumental to prejudice people against the truths and ways of Christ are doing the devil's work.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
But Elymas, the sorcerer, (for so is his name by interpretation) - That is, Elymas is the interpretation of the word μαγος, or sorcerer; not of the word Bar-Jesus as some have imagined; and to support which they have been led into strange etymologies on the word βαρ-Ιησους, Bar-Jesus. But how is Elymas, Ελυμας, the interpretation of the word μαγος, magician or sorcerer? Ans. Both names are Asiatic; but neither Hebrew nor Greek.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
But Elymas--or "the wise." for so is his name by interpretation--the word is from the Arabic. withstood them--perceiving, probably, how eagerly the proconsul was drinking in the word, and fearing a dismissal.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
}But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) - Elymas the magician. Elymas is the interpretation, not of the name Bar-jesus, but of the word rendered “the sorcerer.” It is an Arabic word, and means the same as Magus. It seems that he was better known by this foreign name than by his own. Withstood them - Resisted them. He was sensible that if the influence of Saul and Barnabas should be extended over the proconsul, that he would be seen to be an impostor, and his power be at an end. His interest, therefore, led him to oppose the gospel. His own popularity was at stake; and being governed by this, he opposed the gospel of God. The love of popularity and power, the desire of retaining some political influence, is often a strong reason why people oppose the gospel. To turn away the deputy from the faith - To prevent the influence of the truth on his mind; or to prevent his be coming the friend and patron of the Christians.
The words behind it
19 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἀνθίστατο | anthistato | Was opposing | G436 → | |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| αὐτοῖς | autois | to them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| Ἐλύμας | elumas | Elymas | G1681 → | |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μάγος, | magos | magician — | G3097 → | |
| οὕτως | houtos | thus | G3779 → | 208 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| μεθερμηνεύεται | methermeneuetai | means | G3177 → | |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὄνομα | onoma | name | G3686 → | 227 times |
| αὐτοῦ, | autou | of him — | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ζητῶν | zeton | seeking | G2212 → | 117 times |
| διαστρέψαι | diastrepsai | to turn away | G1294 → | 7 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀνθύπατον | anthupaton | proconsul | G446 → | 5 times |
| ἀπὸ | apo | from | G575 → | 640 times |
| τῆς | tes | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πίστεως. | pisteos | faith. | G4102 → | 242 times |
ἀνθίστατοWas opposing
anthistatoG436 →
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
αὐτοῖςto them
autoisG846 →5565 times
ἘλύμαςElymas
elumasG1681 →
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
μάγος,magician —
magosG3097 →
οὕτωςthus
houtosG3779 →208 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
μεθερμηνεύεταιmeans
methermeneuetaiG3177 →
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
ὄνομαname
onomaG3686 →227 times
αὐτοῦ,of him —
autouG846 →5565 times
ζητῶνseeking
zetonG2212 →117 times
διαστρέψαιto turn away
diastrepsaiG1294 →7 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἀνθύπατονproconsul
anthupatonG446 →5 times
ἀπὸfrom
apoG575 →640 times
τῆςthe
tesG3588 →19766 times
πίστεως.faith.
pisteosG4102 →242 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
2 Timothy 3:8Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth. They are depraved in mind and disqualified from the faith.
it leads to
- Exodus 7:11
But Pharaoh called the wise men and sorcerers and magicians of Egypt, and they also did the same things by their magic arts.
- Acts 13:8–11
But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.
- Revelation 2:20
But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads My servants to be sexually immoral and to eat food sacrificed to idols.
- 1 Timothy 6:5
and constant friction between men of depraved mind who are devoid of the truth. These men regard godliness as a means of gain.
- Exodus 7:11
Through
Acts 9:36In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated as Dorcas), who was always occupied with works of kindness and charity.
it leads to
- Titus 3:8
This saying is trustworthy. And I want you to emphasize these things, so that those who have believed God will take care to devote themselves to good deeds. These things are excellent and profitable…
- Titus 2:7
In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,
- 2 Chronicles 2:16
We will cut logs from Lebanon, as many as you need, and we will float them to you as rafts by sea down to Joppa. Then you can take them up to Jerusalem.”
- Hebrews 13:21
equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
- Titus 3:8
Where this verse is studied
About Acts
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on Acts; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Retractions on Acts; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 28; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Tertullian, A Treatise on the Soul; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts and William Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen.