Acts 13:8
New International Version
But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.

New Living Translation
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.

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

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.

Berean Literal Bible
But Elymas the magician (for his name means thus) was opposing them, seeking to turn away the proconsul from the faith.

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

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

New American Standard Bible
But Elymas the magician (for so his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

NASB 1995
But Elymas the magician (for so his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

NASB 1977
But Elymas the magician (for thus his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

Legacy Standard Bible
But Elymas the magician (for so his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

Amplified Bible
But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is how his name is translated) opposed them, trying to turn the proconsul away from accepting the faith.

Christian Standard Bible
But Elymas the sorcerer (that is the meaning of his name) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But Elymas the sorcerer (this is the meaning of his name) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

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

Contemporary English Version
But Bar-Jesus, whose other name was Elymas, was against them. He even tried to keep the governor from having faith in the Lord.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Elymas, whose name means [astrologer], opposed them and tried to distort the meaning of the faith so that the governor wouldn't believe.

Good News Translation
But they were opposed by the magician Elymas (that is his name in Greek), who tried to turn the governor away from the faith.

International Standard Version
But Elymas the occult practitioner (that is the meaning of his name) continued to oppose them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

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

NET Bible
But the magician Elymas (for that is the way his name is translated) opposed them, trying to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

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

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

Weymouth New Testament
But Elymas (or 'the Magician,' for such is the meaning of the name)

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.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and there withstood them Elymas the magus—for so is his name interpreted—seeking to pervert the proconsul from the faith.

Berean Literal Bible
But Elymas the magician (for his name means thus) was opposing them, seeking to turn away the proconsul 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.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Elymas the magician withstood them, (for so was his name interpreted,) seeking to turn the proconsul from the faith.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But Elymas the magician (for so his name is interpreted) withstood them, seeking to turn away the proconsul from the faith.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But Elymas the magician (for so his name is translated) stood against them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the Faith.

New American Bible
But Elymas the magician (for that is what his name means) opposed them in an attempt to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

New Revised Standard Version
But the magician Elymas (for that is the translation of his name) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But Bar-Shu’ma the sorcerer (whose name is interpreted Elymas) withstood them, seeking to turn away the proconsul from the faith.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But the Sorcerer Bar Shuma, whose name is translated Alumas, withstood them because he wanted to turn aside the Proconsul from the faith.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
But the magician Elymas (for this is his name, when translated) withstood them, desiring to turn away the proconsul from the faith.

Godbey New Testament
but Elymas the magician (for thus his name is interpreted) opposed them, seeking to turn away the proconsul from the faith.

Haweis New Testament
But Elymas the magician (for such is his name when interpreted) opposed them, seeking to pervert the proconsul from the faith.

Mace New Testament
but Elymas (a name which signifies Magus) opposed them, endeavouring to seduce the proconsul from the faith.

Weymouth New Testament
But Elymas (or 'the Magician,' for such is the meaning of the name)

Worrell New Testament
but Elymas, the sorcerer (for so his name is interpreted) withstood them, seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith.

Worsley New Testament
But Elymas the magician (for so his name signifies) withstood them endeavouring to turn away the proconsul from the faith.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



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. 9Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked directly at Elymas…

Cross References
Exodus 7:11-12
But Pharaoh called the wise men and sorcerers and magicians of Egypt, and they also did the same things by their magic arts. / Each one threw down his staff, and it became a serpent. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up the other staffs.

2 Timothy 3:8
Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth. They are depraved in mind and disqualified from the faith.

1 Kings 22:22
And he replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ ‘You will surely entice him and prevail,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’

2 Thessalonians 2:9-10
The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder, / and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them.

Matthew 24:24
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. / And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. / It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.

Revelation 13:13-14
And the second beast performed great signs, even causing fire from heaven to come down to earth in the presence of the people. / Because of the signs it was given to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet had lived.

Deuteronomy 13:1-3
If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you, / and if the sign or wonder he has spoken to you comes about, but he says, “Let us follow other gods (which you have not known) and let us worship them,” / you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. For the LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Jeremiah 28:15-16
Then the prophet Jeremiah said to the prophet Hananiah, “Listen, Hananiah! The LORD did not send you, but you have persuaded this people to trust in a lie. / Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. You will die this year because you have preached rebellion against the LORD.’”

2 Peter 2:1
Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

1 Timothy 4:1
Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,

Isaiah 8:19
When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists who whisper and mutter, shouldn’t a people consult their God instead? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?

Ezekiel 13:6-9
They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ when the LORD did not send them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message. / Haven’t you seen a false vision and spoken a lying divination when you proclaim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ even though I have not spoken? / Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Because you have uttered vain words and seen false visions, I am against you, declares the Lord GOD. ...


Treasury of Scripture

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

for.

Acts 13:6
And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:

Acts 9:36
Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

John 1:41
He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

withstood.

Exodus 7:11-13
Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments…

1 Kings 22:24
But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?

Jeremiah 28:1,10,11
And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying, …

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Deputy Elymas Faith Interpretation Interpreted Magian Magician Meaning Means Opposed Opposing Pervert Proconsul Purpose Ruler Seeking Sense Sorcerer Translated Tried Turn Turning Withstood Wonder-Worker
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Acts 13
1. Paul and Barnabas are chosen to go to the Gentiles.
6. Of Sergius Paulus, and Elymas the sorcerer.
13. Paul preaches at Antioch that Jesus is Christ.
42. The Gentiles believe;
44. but the Jews talked abusively against Paul,
46. whereupon they turn to the Gentiles, of whom many believe.
50. The Jews raise a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, who go to Iconium.














But Elymas the sorcerer
The name "Elymas" is a transliteration of an Arabic or Aramaic word meaning "wise man" or "sorcerer." In the context of Acts 13:8, Elymas is identified as a magician or sorcerer, which indicates his involvement in practices that were contrary to the teachings of the early Christian church. The term "sorcerer" suggests a person who uses magic or witchcraft, often associated with deception and opposition to God's truth. Historically, sorcery was prevalent in the ancient world, and it was often condemned in Jewish and Christian teachings as it led people away from the worship of the one true God.

opposed them
The phrase "opposed them" indicates active resistance and hostility. Elymas's opposition was not passive; he took deliberate steps to counter the message of Paul and Barnabas. This opposition is significant as it highlights the spiritual warfare that the early church faced. The Greek word used here, "anthistemi," means to set oneself against or to withstand. This reflects the broader theme in Acts of the gospel encountering resistance as it spreads, yet ultimately prevailing through the power of the Holy Spirit.

seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith
The proconsul, Sergius Paulus, was a Roman official, and his conversion would have been a significant event for the early church. Elymas's attempt to "turn the proconsul away from the faith" underscores the spiritual battle for the hearts and minds of individuals. The Greek word "diastrepho," translated as "turn away," implies a perversion or distortion of the truth. Elymas sought to prevent the proconsul from embracing the Christian faith, which suggests that the message of the gospel was perceived as a threat to existing power structures and beliefs. This phrase also highlights the importance of discernment and steadfastness in faith when faced with opposition and false teachings.

(8) But Elymas the sorcerer.--See Note on Acts 13:6. The charlatan feared the loss of the influence which he had previously exercised over the mind of the proconsul. His victim was emancipating himself from his bondage and was passing from credulity to faith, and that progress Bar-jesus sought to check.

Verse 8. - Turn aside for turn away, A.V.; proconsul for deputy, A.V. Elymas, from the Arabic elite, plural oulema, a wise man, a wizard, a magician. But Renan thinks this derivation doubtful. Elymas withstood Barnabas and Saul just as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses (2 Timothy 3:8, ἀντέστησαν).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
But
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

Elymas
Ἐλύμας (Elymas)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1681: Elymas, the name of the sorcerer at Paphos. Of foreign origin; Elymas, a wizard.

the
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

sorcerer
μάγος (magos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3097: A sorcerer, a magician, a wizard. Of foreign origin; a Magian, i.e. Oriental scientist; by implication, a magician.

(for
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

that is what
οὕτως (houtōs)
Adverb
Strong's 3779: Thus, so, in this manner. Or (referring to what precedes or follows).

his
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

name
ὄνομα (onoma)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3686: Name, character, fame, reputation. From a presumed derivative of the base of ginosko; a 'name'.

means)
μεθερμηνεύεται (methermēneuetai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3177: To translate (from one language into another), interpret. From meta and hermeneuo; to explain over, i.e. Translate.

opposed
ἀνθίστατο (anthistato)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 436: To set against; I withstand, resist, oppose. From anti and histemi; to stand against, i.e. Oppose.

them
αὐτοῖς (autois)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

[and] tried
ζητῶν (zētōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2212: To seek, search for, desire, require, demand. Of uncertain affinity; to seek; specially, to worship, or to plot.

to turn
διαστρέψαι (diastrepsai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 1294: To pervert, corrupt, oppose, distort. From dia and strepho; to distort, i.e. misinterpret, or corrupt.

the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

proconsul
ἀνθύπατον (anthypaton)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 446: A proconsul. From anti and a superlative of huper; instead of the highest officer, i.e. a Roman proconsul.

from
ἀπὸ (apo)
Preposition
Strong's 575: From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.

the
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

faith.
πίστεως (pisteōs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 4102: Faith, belief, trust, confidence; fidelity, faithfulness.


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NT Apostles: Acts 13:8 But Elymas the sorcerer for so (Acts of the Apostles Ac)
Acts 13:7
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