What does "enemy of all righteousness" teach about opposing God's work? Setting and Context Acts 13:10 occurs on Paul’s first missionary journey in Paphos, Cyprus. Elymas the magician tries to turn the proconsul Sergius Paulus away from the gospel. Confronting him, “Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, ‘You son of the devil, enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and trickery, will you never stop perverting the straight ways of the Lord?’”. The Spirit-inspired rebuke reveals heaven’s view of anyone who resists God’s saving work. What the Phrase “Enemy of All Righteousness” Teaches • Enemy—active hostility, not mere indifference • Of all righteousness—opposition to every aspect of what is right before God, not just one part • Personal alignment with Satan (“son of the devil”)—no neutral ground (cf. Matthew 12:30) • Intentional distortion—“perverting the straight ways of the Lord” shows conscious twisting, not innocent mistake • Rooted in deceit and trickery—darkness always hides behind lies (cf. John 8:44) Key Characteristics of Those Who Oppose God’s Work 1. Spiritual lineage: linked to the devil’s rebellion (1 John 3:8) 2. Moral posture: stand against every righteous standard (Romans 8:7) 3. Method: deceit, manipulation, slander, counterfeit miracles (2 Corinthians 11:13-15) 4. Goal: block others from faith, keeping them in darkness (2 Corinthians 4:4) 5. Ongoing refusal to repent—“will you never stop…?” underscores hardened persistence The Seriousness of Opposition • To fight the gospel is to fight God Himself (Acts 5:39) • Such opposition invites divine judgment—Elymas was struck blind (Acts 13:11) • Darkness cannot ultimately prevail (John 1:5); God defends His work and advances His kingdom Implications for Believers Today • Discernment: recognize that behind open hostility to the gospel lies spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:12) • Courage: confront deception with truth, led by the Spirit as Paul did • Compassionate warning: opposing God has eternal consequences; call resistors to repentance (2 Timothy 2:25-26) • Personal vigilance: do not partner with unrighteousness in any form (2 Corinthians 6:14) • Confidence: God’s purposes stand; even opposition becomes a stage for His power (Philippians 1:12-14) Living on the Side of Righteousness • Align fully with Christ—no neutrality (James 4:4) • Speak truth plainly, without compromise • Trust the Spirit to expose deceit and guard the advance of the gospel • Celebrate that the “straight ways of the Lord” lead to life, freedom, and everlasting light (Psalm 23:3; John 14:6) |
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