Scripture Notes: A Challenge (Acts 13)

Paul and Barnabas are on the job. The church at Antioch has sent them out to spread the Gospel far and wide, but these Christians do not act on their own. They are guided by the Holy Spirit to set apart Paul and Barnabas for His work. Paul and Barnabas humbly obey.  Off to Cyprus they go!

The first thing Paul and Barnabas meet is a challenge, in the form of one Elymas Bar-Jesus, a magician who has the ear of the local leader, Sergius Paulus. Elymas Bar-Jesus is far from the “son” of Jesus, and far from being His follower, for he tries to turn Sergius away from Paul and Barnabas. He does not want Sergius to learn the truth, for that would deprive him of his favor and of the control he wants to have over other people through whatever “signs” or tricks he can conjure up.

Paul and Barnabas don’t hesitate for a moment. They recognize this guy for who he is, and Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, confronts him. “You son of the devil,” he declares (probably in a strong, ringing voice), “you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?” He knows full well that Elymas will not stop, for he is warped in his very soul, bent and crooked, and he wants to make others look just like him.

So Paul delivers God’s chastisement upon the magician, and at once Elymas becomes blind. His false power, whatever there was of it, is gone. He must rely on others to guide him physically. If he had done so spiritually, he would not now be in this state.

Sergius is properly impressed, and he puts his faith in Jesus, believing the message delivered by Paul and Barnabas. What happens to Elymas?  Does he come to faith and regain his sight?  Or does he remain stubborn in heart and dark in eyes?  We simply don’t know.  But he definitely lost his challenge against Paul and Barnabas.