6 Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, 7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
At this point in their missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas came to Paphos, a center for the licentious worship of Aphrodite, the goddess of lust. People from all over the world came to this perversion of worship. In this kind of context, the gospel team encountered a false teacher who was a magician, a believer in the occult.
13:6
Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus,
Continuing their mission in Cyprus, they traveled 90 miles to the west end of Cyprus to an island called Paphos, a political center. The Roman senate declared Paphos a senatorial province in 22 B.C. It was the seat of government for Cyprus.
In Paphos, they encountered a sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus. He was a Jewish magician.
13:7
who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man.
Bar-Jesus, the false prophet, was with Sergius Paulus, the proconsul when Paulus asked to hear God’s Word. The Roman senate appointed the proconsul or governor.
This man [Paulus] called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.
Evidently, Paulus had some positive volition toward God and wanted to hear what God had to say.
13:8
But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them,
The sorcerer Elymas objected to the ministry of Barnabas and Saul. Elymas was another name for Bar-Jesus. This man sought to dissuade Paulus from believing Barnabas and Paul.
seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
Elymas attempted to turn Paulus from faith in Christianity. Paul and Barnabas were threats to his religious business.
PRINCIPLE:
Ministry involves conflict with the Satanic world.
APPLICATION:
Satan is at war with Christians. This war involves the battle for the souls of men and the wellbeing of the saints. Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse called this conflict “the invisible war” (as in his book titled The Invisible War).
