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Acts 13

Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.

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.

Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,

And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.

But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.

And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.

Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.

The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.

And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness.

And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot.

And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.

And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.

And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:

When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.

Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.

And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain.

And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.

But God raised him from the dead:

And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.

And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,

God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.

Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.

Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;

Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.

Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.

But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.

And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

What does Acts 13:8 mean?

Explanation

Acts 13:8 refers to a confrontation between the apostles Paul and Barnabas and a false prophet named Elymas, also known by his Greek name Bar-Jesus, as they were preaching on the island of Cyprus.

The verse describes Elymas actively opposing the apostles and attempting to prevent the proconsul Sergius Paulus from embracing the Christian faith.

Elymas is described as a "sorcerer," which in the context of the Acts of the Apostles indicates someone who practices magic or deception, misleading people from the truth.

The phrase "for so is his name by interpretation" likely offers the reader a translation of his name from another language, emphasizing the meaning of Elymas as a wise or knowing one, which is in sharp contrast to his true nature as an opponent to the gospel.

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Historical Context

The Book of Acts was written by Luke as a continuation of his Gospel, around A.D. 60-70, to detail the spread of the early Christian church after the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Cyprus was an important crossroads in the Mediterranean and was known for its cultural and religious diversity during the Roman Empire.

Acts 13 is significant as it records the mission of Paul and Barnabas to the island, marking the beginning of Paul’s first missionary journey.

The presence of figures like Elymas, who attempted to dissuade influential leaders such as the deputy Sergius Paulus from converting to Christianity, was a common challenge faced by the early Christian missionaries.

Theological Insights

Different theological viewpoints can offer varying insights into this verse.

From a traditional Christian perspective, this story demonstrates the conflict between the power of God as manifested by the apostles, and the counterfeit power of sorcery and deceit represented by Elymas. It underscores the belief in the sovereignty and triumph of God's truth over false doctrine.

From a charismatic perspective, this confrontation may illustrate the spiritual warfare between the forces of good and evil, emphasizing the authority of the apostles through the Holy Spirit to overcome spiritual opposition.

Practical Applications

This verse can be seen as a reminder of the importance of discernment in the face of opposition and deception.

It encourages individuals to stand firm in their faith, to be wary of those who seek to mislead, and to uphold the truth of the gospel when confronted with conflicting ideologies or deceptive practices.

It can also inspire believers to be bold in witnessing their faith, even when faced with resistance from influential or authoritative figures.

Cross-References

2 Timothy 3:8: "Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith."
Ephesians 6:12: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
Acts 8:9-11: "But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one..."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text of Acts 13:8 are "μάγος" (magos) meaning "magician" or "sorcerer," and "ἀνθίστημι" (anthistēmi) translating to "oppose" or "withstand." The term "μάγος" has Persian origins and refers to a practitioner of magic arts, often implying a charlatan or false prophet.

The verb "ἀνθίστημι" conveys a strong opposition, indicating that Elymas not only disagreed with Paul and Barnabas but actively worked against them.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Elymas as a "sorcerer" or "magician" can be compared with similar figures in other ancient cultures and religions.

For example, in ancient Egypt, magicians were considered to have sacred knowledge that allowed them to perform extraordinary feats.

Similarly, in Greco-Roman society, figures like the Pythia, the priestess of Apollo at Delphi, served as oracles and were believed to have prophetic powers.

These cultural parallels demonstrate a common understanding across different societies of individuals who claimed supernatural insight or abilities.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific perspectives would likely analyze the term "sorcerer" as a reflection of the human tendency to ascribe supernatural explanations to phenomena not understood by contemporary science.

From a modern viewpoint, what was labeled as sorcery in the ancient world could be interpreted as a manifestation of psychological manipulation, use of herbal substances, or natural phenomena that were beyond the scientific understanding of the time.

Commentaries

Scholars and theologians have offered various interpretations on Acts 13:8.

Some suggest that Elymas represents the broader opposition the early church faced from established religious authorities and other belief systems.

Commentaries such as the "Expositor's Bible Commentary" or the "Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges" explore the confrontation as a demonstration of apostolic authority and the fulfillment of Jesus's promises that his followers would perform miraculous signs.

Matthew Henry's commentary emphasizes the wickedness and deceit of Elymas, contrasting it with the simplicity and power of the apostles' witness to the truth.

Acts 13

Acts 13

What does Acts 13:8 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 13:8 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?