Three ancient sorcerers from different regions stand together in a courtyard, with one grasping his blinded eyes and another dropping a bag of silver.

Roles

Sorcerers and Magicians

Who is on this listThe BSB calls the person a sorcerer or magician, or shows the person practicing sorcery.

In All Judea and Samaria (1)To the Ends of the Earth (3)

The named sorcerers who opposed God's messengers.

Scripture names few sorcerers, and each of them appears opposing God’s word. In Samaria, a man named Simon "had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria" (Acts 8:9). Simon believed and was baptized, but later offered the apostles money for the power to give the Spirit, and Peter rebuked him (Acts 8:18–23).

At Paphos, Paul and Barnabas found "a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus" (Acts 13:6). Luke also calls him "Elymas the sorcerer" and says he tried to turn the proconsul from the faith (Acts 13:8). Paul declared him blind for a time, and the proconsul believed (Acts 13:11–12). Bar-Jesus is one man under two names.

Paul names Jannes and Jambres, who "opposed Moses" (2 Timothy 3:8). The magicians of Pharaoh’s court and the wise men of Babylon appear only as groups in the text, so they are not listed here.