Acts 13:8
What does Acts 13:8 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 13:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 13:8 means
Elymas, which is the interpreted name for Bar-Jesus, actively opposed Barnabas and Saul. His goal was to divert Proconsul Sergius Paulus from accepting the faith. As a sorcerer and false prophet, Elymas understood that the gospel message presented a direct threat to his influence and power. His resistance signifies the spiritual battle accompanying the proclamation of God's word, as forces of darkness seek to prevent people, especially those in positions of authority, from embracing the truth of Christ. He sought to maintain his deceptive hold over the proconsul.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith.
KJV
King James Version · 1611But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But Elymas, the wonder-worker (for that is the sense of his name), put himself against them, with the purpose of turning the ruler from the faith.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and there withstood them Elymas the magian--for so is his name interpreted--seeking to pervert the proconsul from the faith.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But Elymas the magician (for so his name is interpreted) withstood them, seeking to turn away the proconsul from the faith.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But Elymas the magician (for so his name is by interpretation) opposed them, seeking to turn away the proconsul from the faith.
Context
Following the proconsul Sergius Paulus's eagerness to hear the word of God in verse 7, this verse immediately introduces the opposition from Elymas, the sorcerer. His direct attempt to turn the proconsul away from the faith creates a dramatic tension. This resistance sets the stage for Saul's (Paul's) powerful confrontation with Elymas, which unfolds in verses 9-11, demonstrating the direct spiritual warfare encountered by the missionaries and the divine power that would overcome it.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Jeremiah 29:24
And concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite thou shalt speak, saying,
- Acts 13:6
And when they had gone through the whole island unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-Jesus;
- John 1:41
He findeth first his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah (which is, being interpreted, Christ).
- Jeremiah 28:1
And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azzur, the prophet, who was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of Jehovah, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,
- Acts 9:36
Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
- Acts 6:7
And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
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