Acts 13:10-11

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 13:4-13

In these verses we have, I. A general account of the coming of Barnabas and Saul to the famous island of Cyprus; and perhaps thitherward they steered their course because Barnabas was a native of that country (Acts 4:36), and he was willing they should have the first-fruits of his labours, pursuant to his new commission. Observe, 1. Their being sent forth by the Holy Ghost was the great thing that encouraged them in this undertaking, Acts 13:4. If the Holy Ghost send them forth, he will go... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 13:4-12

13:4-12 So when they had been sent out by the Holy Spirit they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed away to Cyprus. When they were in Salamis they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogue of the Jews; and they had John as their helper. They went through the whole island as far as Paphos, and there they found a man who was a dealer in magic, a false prophet and a Jew. His name was Bar-Jesus and he was with the pro-consul Sergius Paulus who was an intelligent man. The pro-consul... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 13:10

And said, O full of all subtlety and all mischief ,.... Which may have regard both to his general character as a sorcerer, and a false prophet; in acting up to which he used much deceit and cunning among the people, and did much mischief to them; to which there was a promptness and readiness in him, as the word used signifies; and also to the sophistry he used, and the mischief he endeavoured to do in seeking to turn the deputy from the faith. The minds of carnal men are vain and empty, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 13:11

And now behold the hand of the Lord is upon thee ,.... That is, the power of God was just ready to be exerted on him in a way of punishment, by striking him with blindness: and thou shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a season : so blind as not to see the sun, when it shined ever so brightly: this punishment seems to be but for a time; and some say that Elymas repented, and had his sight restored to him; and after that he returned to his sorcery, and again greatly opposed Barnabas in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 13:10

O full of all subtilty - Δολου , Deceit, pretending to supernatural powers without possessing any, and having only cunning and deceit as their substitutes. And - mischief - Ῥᾳδιουργιας , from ῥᾳδιος , easy, and εργον , a work; one who is ready at his work; a word which excellently well defines a juggler, one who is expert at sleight of hand; though it is often employed to signify an abandoned and accomplished villain. Child of the devil - Υἱε διαβολου , Son of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 13:11

The hand of the Lord is upon thee - The power of God is now about to deal with thee in the way of justice. Thou shalt be blind - Every word here proves the immediate inspiration of Paul. He was full of the Holy Ghost when he began this address: by the light of that Spirit he discerned the state of Elymas, and exposed his real character; and, by the prophetic influence of that same Spirit, he predicted the calamity that was about to fall upon him, while as yet there was no sign of his... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 13:10

Verse 10 10.O thou full of deceit. It was not without a cause that Paul was thus hot and angry; for he had no hope to do any good if he should deal after some moderate and mild sort. We must always begin with doctrine, and those are also to be admonished, exhorted, and pricked forward, who do not as yet appear to be altogether obstinate. Neither doth Paul so vehemently inveigh against the sorcerer at the first dash; but when he seeth him maliciously and manifestly fight against the doctrine of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 13:11

Verse 11 11.Behold the hand. The hand is put here to punish; (789) a whereby he doth signify that God is the author of this punishment, and that he is only the minister. Furthermore, I think that this hability is that which Paul calleth δυναμις, or power, (1 Corinthians 12:28.) For as they did excel in power of the Spirit to help the faithful with miracles, so had they the whip in their hand to tame the rebellious and obstinate withal. Such vengeance of God did Peter show upon Ananias and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 13:1-15

The invasion of heathendom. It has been well remarked that Antioch was the true center of direct missions to the heathen world. An Ethiopian eunuch, and a Roman centurion, had indeed been gathered into the fold of Christ. But they were both closely connected with the land of Judah, and their conversion had not led to any further extension of the gospel of Christ. At Antioch the seed of Christian truth first fell in abundance upon heathen soil; from Antioch first went forth the preachers of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 13:4-12

The mission in Cyprus. I. THE FALSE PROPHET . Bar-jesus may stand as the type of one class of foes with whom Christianity has to contend. He is described as a "mage" and a "false prophet." It appears that he gave himself the title of Elymas (to which word the modern Turkish ulema corresponds)—"wise man" par excellence. The essence of the magic calling is the pretension to override the laws of nature and providence in obedience to the wishes and fantasies and caprices of the... read more

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