Why did Elymas oppose Paul and Barnabas at Paphos?
Elymas, a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet, opposed Paul and Barnabas because he wanted to keep the Roman deputy Sergius Paulus from hearing the Word of God. He withstood them, seeking to turn the deputy away from the faith, probably to preserve his own influence as the governor's right-hand man.
Les explains that at Paphos, Paul and Barnabas encountered a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, also called Elymas in verse 8. He was with the deputy, or governor, the Roman Sergius Paulus, a prudent man who called for Barnabas and Saul because he desired to hear the Word of God. Les notes that Gentiles, by the unction of the Holy Spirit, were showing interest in the Word of God. But this Jewish sorcerer, probably the deputy's right-hand man, withstood them, trying to keep Paul and Barnabas from any contact with his Roman governor. He sought to turn away the deputy from the faith. Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, set his eyes on him and said, O full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
More Questions
Who was Elymas the sorcerer and what did he do to oppose Paul?
Elymas the sorcerer was a Jew (that is what his name means by interpretation), and he withstood Paul and Barnabas, doing everything he could to keep the Roman deputy from hearing the Word of God from Paul's lips and trying to turn the deputy away from the faith.