Acts 13:8

Verse

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

American Standard Version (1901)

But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith.

Bible in Basic English

But Elymas, the wonder-worker (for that is the sense of his name), put himself against them, with the purpose of turning the ruler from the faith.

Douay-Rheims 1899

But Elymas the magician (for so his name is interpreted) withstood them, seeking to turn away the proconsul from the faith.

Free Bible Version

But the magician Elymas (his Greek name) opposed them, trying to prevent the governor from trusting in God.

Geneva Bible 1599

But Elymas, ye sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstoode them, and sought to turne away the Deputie from the faith.

King James (Authorized) Version

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

Translation for Translators

However, the magician, whose name was Elymas in the Greek language, was opposing them. He repeatedly tried to persuade the governor not to believe in Jesus.

Unlocked Literal Bible

But Elymas “the magician” (that is how his name is translated) opposed them; he tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

Noah Webster Bible

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

World English Bible

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

Young's Literal Translation

and there withstood them Elymas the magian — for so is his name interpreted — seeking to pervert the proconsul from the faith.

Context

On Cyprus

⁷an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, a man of intelligence, summoned Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.⁸But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.

Summary

In Acts 13:8, the sorcerer Elymas, also known as Bar-Jesus, opposes Paul and Barnabas as they share the Gospel with Sergius Paulus, the proconsul. Elymas tries to turn Sergius Paulus away from the faith, but Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, rebukes Elymas, temporarily blinding him as a sign of God's judgment. This event demonstrates the power of God over spiritual darkness and the importance of boldly confronting opposition to the truth of the Gospel. It also serves as a reminder that God's Word will prevail despite attempts to hinder its spread.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

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. I have already observed, in the note on Mat 2:1, that mogh in Persian means an idolater, a worshipper of fire, and sometimes what we term a magician. Elymas is from the Arabic ilm, knowledge, science, doctrine, art; from alama, he was wise, skilled, etc.; hence aleem or alymon, a doctor or learned man, and, with the Greek termination, ελυμας, Elymas, the interpretation of mogh, Greek μαγος, magos, a magician, a wise man, doctor, etc.

John Gill Bible Commentary

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 "Chalam", which signifies "to heal", or to be sound and in health. Junius thinks the name comes from the Arabic word which signifies "to mutter", as wizards and sorcerers, and such sort of men used to do; and though he rejects the opinion of Tremellius, taking it for an Hebrew name, and to be the same with "Elimaatz", which signifies "divine counsel"; yet this, or what is near to it, is embraced by a late learned man (m) who observes, that Elymas is in Hebrew, "Elmahatz"; the interpretation of which is, God's counsel, or the counsel of God; the name of a man, Maaz, is read in Ch1 2:27 and that it is the same with Elymoteros, as Olympas is the same with Olympiodorus; and he further observes, that Barjeus, as Jerom or Origen say it was anciently read, and not Bar-jesus, is the same with , "Barjeutz", or Barjeus, the "son of counsel", and so agrees with Elymas: now he withstood them: Saul and Barnabas, just as Jannes and Jambres, the magicians of Egypt, withstood Moses: he did all he could to prevent their coming into the governor's house, and them from preaching to him, and him from hearing of them; and especially from giving heed to, and embracing the doctrines preached by them; which he opposed and argued against, with all the cunning and sophistry he was master of: seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith; the doctrine of faith, from hearing and receiving it; and when he had received it, he endeavoured to set him against it, and cause him to deny and reject it with abhorrence; the Ethiopic version calls him "the king", as in the former verse "the prince". (m) Hilleri Onomasticum Sacrum, p. 803.

Acts 13:8

On Cyprus

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version (1901)

But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith.

Bible in Basic English

But Elymas, the wonder-worker (for that is the sense of his name), put himself against them, with the purpose of turning the ruler from the faith.

Douay-Rheims 1899

But Elymas the magician (for so his name is interpreted) withstood them, seeking to turn away the proconsul from the faith.

Free Bible Version

But the magician Elymas (his Greek name) opposed them, trying to prevent the governor from trusting in God.

Geneva Bible 1599

But Elymas, ye sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstoode them, and sought to turne away the Deputie from the faith.

King James (Authorized) Version

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

Translation for Translators

However, the magician, whose name was Elymas in the Greek language, was opposing them. He repeatedly tried to persuade the governor not to believe in Jesus.

Unlocked Literal Bible

But Elymas “the magician” (that is how his name is translated) opposed them; he tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

Noah Webster Bible

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

World English Bible

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

Young's Literal Translation

and there withstood them Elymas the magian — for so is his name interpreted — seeking to pervert the proconsul from the faith.

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Acts 13:8

Verse

Context

On Cyprus

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Acts 13:8

On Cyprus

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary