Acts 13 8

Acts 13:8 kjv

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

Acts 13:8 nkjv

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

Acts 13:8 niv

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

Acts 13:8 esv

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

Acts 13:8 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.

Acts 13 verses

Acts 13 8 Meaning

The verse describes the supernatural manifestation of power by God through Elymas, a sorcerer, whom Paul encountered. This power manifested as blindness, temporarily incapacitating Elymas, illustrating God's sovereign authority over spiritual forces and human actions, and serving as a testament to the truth of the gospel message Paul preached.

Acts 13 8 Context

In the broader narrative of Acts, Paul and Barnabas are on their first missionary journey, sharing the Gospel in Cyprus and then Pisidian Antioch. In Cyprus, they encountered Elymas, a sorcerer who tried to prevent the proconsul Sergius Paulus from hearing the Gospel. Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, confronted Elymas, pronouncing judgment upon him for his opposition to the truth. This verse describes the immediate execution of that judgment: Elymas was struck blind. This event served to both vindicate Paul's apostolic authority and to impress the proconsul, leading to his conversion.

Acts 13 8 Word analysis

• Paul (Παῦλος, Paulos): The apostle, formerly known as Saul, a key figure in spreading Christianity.

• being (υπαρχων, hyparchon): Present participle, indicating a continuous state.

• filled (πλNoThus, plēsthēs): Not a direct biblical word for filled; likely referring to a strong, divine compulsion or action. This implies being acted upon by the Spirit.

• with (ἐν, en): In.

• the Holy (τῷ Ἁγίῳ, tō Hagiō): The Holy Spirit. "Holy" is hagios, meaning set apart, sacred.

• Spirit (Πνεύματι, Pneumati): Spirit, wind, breath. Refers to the divine person of the Holy Spirit.

• he gazed (ἀτενίσας, atenisas): Fixing his eyes upon; intense scrutiny.

• on (εἰς, eis): Into, upon.

• him (αὐτόν, auton): Elymas.

• and (καὶ, kai): Conjunction.

• said (εἶπεν, eipen): Spoke.

• You (Σὺ, Sy): Second person singular pronoun, direct address.

• full (πλήρης, plērēs): Abounding with; thoroughly imbued with.

• of (πάσης, pasēs): All kinds of, every sort.

• all (πάσης, pasēs): Every, all.

• deceit (δολίας, dolias): Deceitfulness, treachery.

• and (καὶ, kai): Conjunction.

• all (παντὸς, pantos): Every, all.

• fraud (παντὸς, pantos): Mischief, wrongdoing, iniquity.

• You (Σὺ, Sy): Second person singular pronoun.

• son (υἱέ, huiē): Son, offspring.

• of (τοῦ, tou): Of the.

• the devil (διαβόλου, diabolou): Devil, slanderer, accuser. Referring to Elymas's character and allegiance.

• you (εἶ, ei): You are.

• enemy (ἐχθρὲ, echthre): Enemy, foe.

• of (πάσης, pasēs): All.

• all (δικαιοσύνηςˌ dikaiosynēs): Righteousness.

• Will (θέλεις, theleis): You desire, you want.

• you not (οὐ παύσῃ, ou pausē): You will not stop/cease.

• twist (στρεβλῶν, streblōn): To pervert, distort, corrupt.

• straight (εὐθείας, eutheias): Straight, right, direct.

• ways (τὰς ὁδούς, tas hodous): Paths, ways, directions.

• of (τοῦ, tou): Of the.

• the Lord (Κυρίου, Kyriou): Lord, Master.

• ? (?) - Question mark.

• Now (νῦν, nun): At this time.

• behold (καὶ, kai): And, also, behold (used for emphasis).

• the hand (ἡ χεὶρ, hē cheir): The hand. Often signifies power or action.

• of (τοῦ, tou): Of the.

• the Lord (Κυρίου, Kyriou): Lord.

• is (ἐπὶ, epi): Upon.

• upon (σου, sou): You (possessive).

• you (σε, se): You (objective).

• And (καὶ, kai): Conjunction.

• you (σύ, sy): You.

• will be (ἔσῃ, esē): Shall be.

• blind (τυφλός, typhlos): Blind.

• even (ἄχρι, achri): Until.

• till (τοῦ, tou): Of the.

• a (καιροῦ, kairou): Time, season.

• time (καιροῦ, kairou): A specific period.

• Immediately (παραχρῆμα, paraxrēma): At once, immediately.

• there fell (ἀπέπεσεν, apepesen): Fell off.

• on (ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ, ap' autou): From him.

• him (αὐτοῦ, autou): Him.

• a (ὄχλος, ochlos): Crowd, multitude.

• mist (ομίχλη, homichlē): Mist, fog, darkness.

• and (καὶ, kai): Conjunction.

• he (αὐτὸς, autos): He.

• went (πορευόταν, poreyotan): He went his way.

• about (πορευόταν, poreyotan): Moving, going.

• trying (ζητῶν, zētōn): Seeking.

• to lead (χειραγωγεῖν, cheiragōgein): To lead by the hand.

• him (αὐτόν, auton): Him.

• Groups of Words Analysis:

  • "filled with the Holy Spirit" (πλNoThus ἐν τῷ Ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι, plēsthēs en tō Hagiō Pneumati): This describes not just being filled, but being actively energized and empowered by the Holy Spirit for a specific divine purpose, aligning with the manifestation of power and discernment.
  • "full of all deceit and all fraud" (πλήρης πάσης δολίας καὶ παντὸς παντὸς, plērēs pasēs dolias kai pantos pantos): This is a strong denunciation of Elymas's character, portraying him as inherently corrupt and actively engaged in malicious deception. The repetition of "all" emphasizes the completeness of his wickedness.
  • "enemy of all righteousness" (ἐχθρὲ πάσης δικαιοσύνης, echthre pasēs dikaiosynēs): This highlights his opposition not just to specific people or truths, but to the very nature of godliness and justice.
  • "Will you not stop twisting the straight ways of the Lord?" (οὐ παύσῃ στρεβλῶν τὰς εὐθείας τὰς ὁδούς τοῦ Κυρίου, ou pausē streblōn tas eutheias tas hodous tou Kyriou): A direct accusation and a rhetorical question, challenging his ongoing corrupting influence on the path of truth.
  • "the hand of the Lord is upon you" (ἡ χεὶρ τοῦ Κυρίου ἐπὶ σέ, hē cheir tou Kyriou epi se): A powerful statement of divine judgment and intervention, signifying that God's active power is now directed against Elymas.
  • "you will be blind" (ἔσῃ τυφλός, esē typhlos): The consequence of divine judgment – a physical affliction mirroring his spiritual blindness.
  • "immediately there fell on him a mist" (παραχρῆμα ἀπέπεσεν ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ ὄχλος ὁμίχλη, paraxrēma apepesen ap' autou ochlos homichlē): Describes the instantaneous nature of the affliction, with "mist" (homichlē) symbolizing obscuration and disorientation, a direct result of the divine "hand."
  • "seeking to lead him by the hand" (ζητῶν χειραγωγεῖν αὐτόν, zētōn cheiragōgein auton): Highlights Elymas's helplessness and his reliance on others for guidance after being blinded, a stark contrast to his former manipulative influence.

Acts 13 8 Bonus section

The Greek word "oligachos" is not present in this verse or chapter. The presence of "omist" (mist/fog) emphasizes temporary obscurity, a hallmark of God's judgments that often include a path to restoration. This event is a classic example of spiritual warfare in action, where the power of God directly confronts and neutralizes the power of the adversary through His chosen messenger. The reference to "leading him by the hand" is a powerful visual: the man who sought to manipulate and blind others now becomes the one who needs to be led, a testament to divine retribution and reversal. The parallelism of "full of all deceit" and "full of all fraud" (both translated from related Greek terms for deception and mischief) emphasizes the absolute and all-encompassing nature of Elymas's wickedness, leaving no room for pretense.

Acts 13 8 Commentary

This verse is pivotal in demonstrating the authority of the apostolic ministry through the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul, operating under divine inspiration and authority, confronts Elymas's spiritual wickedness. The accusation against Elymas—being "full of all deceit and all fraud" and an "enemy of all righteousness"—reveals the stark contrast between the forces of God and the forces of opposition. Elymas's blindness is a supernatural consequence directly inflicted by God, initiated by Paul's declaration. This judgment is not merely punitive but also serves as a powerful testimony to Sergius Paulus, the proconsul, underscoring the truth of the Gospel and the power of God. The physical blindness symbolizes Elymas's spiritual state—his inability to see or accept the truth of God—and also shows the futility of demonic opposition when faced with divine power.