Acts 13 9

Acts 13:9 kjv

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

Acts 13:9 nkjv

Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him

Acts 13:9 niv

Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said,

Acts 13:9 esv

But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him

Acts 13:9 nlt

Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in the eye.

Acts 13 verses

Acts 13 9 Meaning

Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed intently at Elymas, the sorcerer, and discerned his true character. He identified Elymas as a child of the devil, an enemy of all righteousness, and a master of deceit. This discernment enabled Paul to address Elymas directly, confronting his corrupt nature and his attempts to turn Sergius Paulus away from the faith.

Acts 13 9 Context

This verse occurs within the initial missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas as recorded in Acts chapter 13. They have arrived in Paphos, Cyprus, and are ministering to Sergius Paulus, the Roman proconsul. Elymas, a sorcerer and false prophet, attempts to prevent the proconsul from hearing the Gospel by opposing Paul and Barnabas. It is at this critical moment, as Sergius Paulus is about to embrace the Christian faith, that Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, confronts Elymas.

Acts 13 9 Word Analysis

• But: Introduces a contrast to whatever might have preceded or been expected.
• Saul: The Hebrew name of the apostle Paul, emphasizing his Jewish identity before his public ministry as Paul.
• who: Connects Saul to the following description.
• was also called: Indicates a common alternative name.
• Paul: The Gentile name, reflecting his mission to the nations. This transition often signifies a shift in identity and purpose.
• filled with: Denotes being permeated or possessed by something, indicating a complete immersion.
• the: Specific definite article.
• Holy: Set apart, pure, sacred.
• Spirit: The third person of the Trinity, the active agent of God in the world and in believers.
• and: Conjunction connecting clauses or phrases.
• gazed intently: To look fixedly or long at something, often with intense scrutiny or concentration.
• at: Preposition indicating direction or target.
• Elymas: A Greek name meaning "wise" or "learned," often used for magicians or astrologers. His Jewish occupation as a sorcerer is highlighted by the name Bar-Jesus ("son of Joshua" or "son of Jesus," but in this context likely "son of a savior," implying a deceptive spiritual lineage or false saviour).
• the sorcerer: One who practices sorcery, magic, or enchantment, often involving wicked or deceitful practices. In the context of the NT, it often carries a sense of antagonism towards divine power.
• For: Introduces a reason or explanation for the gaze.
• he: Refers to Elymas.
• was full of: Describes the predominant state or essence of a person.
• all: Emphasizes completeness or totality.
• deceit: The action or practice of deceiving someone by misrepresenting the truth.
• and: Conjunction.
• all: Emphasizes completeness.
• wickedness: Moral evil; extreme evil or wickedness.
• and: Conjunction.
• a son of: Indicates derivation, characteristic, or allegiance.
• the devil: Satan, the primary antagonist of God and humanity, the embodiment of evil and opposition to God.
• and: Conjunction.
• an enemy of: One who is actively hostile or opposed to.
• all: Emphasizes totality.
• righteousness: Acting in accordance with divine or moral law; free from guilt or sin.
• You: Direct address to Elymas.
• will you: Indicates a future action.
• not cease: To stop doing something; to persist in an action.
• to pervert: To alter something from its original course, meaning, or state, especially in a harmful way; to distort or corrupt.
• the straight ways: The correct, upright, or direct paths; the true doctrines or practices.
• of the: Possessive indicating origin or affiliation.
• the Lord: Refers to God or Jesus Christ.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Saul, who was also called Paul": This juxtaposition highlights the dual identity and the significant transition in his ministry as he engages with a Gentile audience and authority.
• "filled with the Holy Spirit": This is not a passive state but an active empowerment. The Spirit enables Paul for discernment and authoritative speech, directly contrasting with Elymas's reliance on demonic powers. The Spirit's presence is the source of true spiritual authority.
• "gazed intently": This signifies more than casual observation; it’s a penetrating, spiritual diagnosis enabled by the Holy Spirit.
• "full of all deceit and all wickedness": This is a powerful condemnation, encompassing every facet of Elymas's being and actions. It describes a person thoroughly corrupted by evil.
• "a son of the devil": This establishes Elymas’s fundamental spiritual lineage and allegiance. He embodies the characteristics and aims of Satan.
• "an enemy of all righteousness": This defines his inherent opposition to God’s moral order and truth. He is fundamentally against all that is good and just.
• "you will not cease to pervert the straight ways of the Lord": This charges Elymas with actively and persistently distorting God's truth and teachings, hindering people from following God's true path. It's a deliberate effort to corrupt spiritual understanding.

Acts 13 9 Bonus Section

The encounter with Elymas, also known as Bar-Jesus, is a foundational moment for the introduction of Paul's ministry to the Gentiles and a key instance of the power of the Holy Spirit’s discernment. The name Bar-Jesus itself could be a deliberate taunt or appropriation of Jesus' name, highlighting Elymas’s fraudulent claim to spiritual authority. Paul’s transformation of Saul to Paul here is significant not just in name, but in the demonstration of his divine commission to evangelize the wider world. The deliberate use of "straight ways" contrasts sharply with the "crooked paths" of the deceiver.

Acts 13 9 Commentary

The Holy Spirit empowers Paul with a profound spiritual discernment, allowing him to see beyond Elymas's outward appearance as a respected sorcerer and recognize his inner corruption as a servant of the devil. This insight is crucial because Sergius Paulus, the proconsul, was interested in Christianity. Elymas was actively trying to prevent Sergius Paulus from hearing the Gospel by turning him away from the apostles' teaching. Paul’s declaration is a direct and bold confrontation, aimed at exposing the deception and removing the spiritual obstacle to Sergius Paulus's faith. The statement also functions as a prophecy of Elymas's immediate consequence, foreshadowing divine judgment. This illustrates that genuine faith leaders, guided by the Spirit, can unmask false teachers and protect those seeking truth. The opposition faced by Paul is not unusual; throughout his ministry, he encountered resistance from those who served opposing spiritual forces.