What does Paul blinding Simon Bar-Jonah on Cyprus picture?
Paul’s blinding of Simon Bar-Jonah for a season pictures Israel’s national blindness. As that Jewish opponent tried to hinder Paul’s ministry to the Roman deputy, so Israel has been temporarily set aside and blinded, not forever. After this long season, Israel’s spiritual eyes will one day be opened again.
Les explains that the incident on Cyprus serves as a picture of Israel’s condition. When Paul began his ministry, Simon Bar-Jonah, a Jew, tried to keep Paul from ministering to the Roman deputy. Paul gave him blindness, but it was not permanent; it was only for a season. Les says that was indicative of the nation of Israel. Israel too has been blinded, not forever, but for a season. Though that season has lasted over 1900 years in human reckoning, it will not last forever. One day, as time runs out, Israel will once again have her spiritual eyes opened. Earlier, Les also notes that God has blinded Israel nationally but that individually they can still come in; they have been set aside for a period of time, not completely removed from God’s program.
And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:
See the restMore Questions
What does Paul blinding the Jewish sorcerer on Cyprus picture about Israel?
When Paul struck Simon Bar-Jonah, the Jewish opponent of his ministry on Cyprus, with blindness for a season, it was a picture indicative of the nation of Israel's own temporary blinding.