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When they had traveled through the entire island [of Cyprus] as far as Paphos, they found a sorcerer, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus, who was [closely associated] with the [a]proconsul [of the province], Sergius Paulus, an intelligent and sensible man. He called for Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear the word of God [concerning eternal salvation through faith in Christ]. But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is how his name is translated) opposed them, trying to turn the proconsul away from accepting the faith. But [b]Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit and led by Him, looked steadily at Elymas, 10 and said, “[c]You [Elymas] who are full of every [kind of] deceit, and every [kind of] fraud, you son of the devil, enemy of everything that is right and good, will you never stop perverting the straight paths of the Lord?(A) 11 [d]Now, watch! The hand of the Lord is on you, and you will be blind, [so blind that you will be] unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately a mist and darkness fell upon him, and he groped around, seeking people to lead him by the hand.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 13:7 In a Roman province, the proconsul was head of the local government.
  2. Acts 13:9 Saul was the apostle Paul’s Jewish (Hebrew) name. As his ministry to Gentiles began he became known by his Roman (Latin) name, Paul.
  3. Acts 13:10 Elymas’ claims of having “special power” or “secret knowledge” were based on his deceitful use of illusions.
  4. Acts 13:11 This is Paul’s first recorded miracle.

They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer(A) and false prophet(B) named Bar-Jesus, who was an attendant of the proconsul,(C) Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer(D) (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul(E) from the faith.(F) Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit,(G) looked straight at Elymas and said, 10 “You are a child of the devil(H) and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?(I) 11 Now the hand of the Lord is against you.(J) You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.”(K)

Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

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