Elymas Struck Blind on Cyprus

Barnabas and Saul, accompanied by John as their helper, traveled to Seleucia and then sailed to Cyprus. After preaching the word of God in the synagogues at Salamis, they traveled through the whole island until they reached Paphos (Acts 13:4-6). There they encountered a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, who was an associate of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The text describes the proconsul as an intelligent man who sent for Barnabas and Saul because he desired to hear the word of God. However, the sorcerer, whose name is Elymas, opposed them and attempted to turn the proconsul away from the faith (Acts 13:7-8).

Saul, who is also called Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit and looked directly at Elymas. Paul identified him as a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right, accusing him of being full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Paul questioned how long Elymas would keep perverting the right ways of the Lord and declared that the hand of the Lord was against him (Acts 13:9-11). Paul stated that Elymas would be blind and unable to see the light of the sun for a time. The text does not say exactly how long this period of blindness was intended to last.

Immediately, mist and darkness came over Elymas, and he endeavored to find people to lead him by the hand because he could not see (Acts 13:11). The proconsul witnessed what had happened to the sorcerer. Upon seeing this event, the proconsul believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord (Acts 13:12). The text does not say whether Elymas eventually regained his sight or what became of John Mark's specific actions during the confrontation at Paphos.