Why did Elymas oppose Paul and Barnabas?
Elymas opposed Paul and Barnabas because he was a Jewish sorcerer and false teacher who withstood them, seeking to turn the Roman deputy away from the faith. He did everything he could to keep that Gentile from salvation, reflecting Israel's broader opposition to the gospel.
Les explains that the Gentile officer called for Barnabas and Saul and desired to hear the word of God, but his right-hand man was a Jew, a sorcerer, a false teacher. This Jew, also called Elymas, withstood them, trying to keep Saul and Barnabas from the Roman deputy and to turn the deputy away from the faith. Les says he was doing everything he could to keep this Gentile from his salvation. Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him. Les ties this to Israel's blindness: Elymas was blinded for a season, not for the rest of his days, picturing the nation of Israel. Everywhere Paul and Barnabas and later Paul and Silas went, their chief opposition was the Jews; even at Thessalonica, dishonorable Jewish women withstood him. So Elymas opposed them as part of that Jewish opposition to the gospel.
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.