Paul's encounter with Elymas the sorcerer is a divinely orchestrated picture of Israel's temporary spiritual blindness and of Jewish opposition to the Gospel going to the Gentiles.
Elymas, a Jew, withstood Paul's attempt to share the Gospel with a Gentile deputy. Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, pronounced that Elymas would be blind "for a season," not permanently. Les Feldick shows this parallels Romans 11, where Israel's blindness is described as "in part" and lasts only until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in.
Acts 13:8-11 — Records the encounter: Elymas withstood Paul, and Paul declared he would be blind for a season.
Romans 11:7 — Shows the election obtained God's purpose while the rest of Israel were blinded.
Romans 11:25 — Calls Israel's blindness 'in part' and sets the 'until' of the fullness of the Gentiles.
In Acts 13, as Paul and Barnabas ministered on Cyprus, Elymas the sorcerer—identified as a Jew—withstood them and sought to turn away a Roman deputy from the faith (Acts 13:8). Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost, addressed him as "thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness" and declared, "the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season" (Acts 13:10-11). The text specifies that the blindness was for a season, not permanent. Romans 11:7 describes the same pattern on a national scale: "Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded." Romans 11:25 then explains the duration: "blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in." Scripture uses the time word "until," showing that the blindness has an appointed end.
Les Feldick sees Elymas as a prophetic picture of the nation of Israel. In his teaching, Elymas's "for a season" blindness mirrors Israel's spiritual blindness: the nation refused the Gospel and opposed Paul's message of grace at every stop—the Jews were his strongest opposition. Just as Elymas tried to keep the Gospel from a Gentile, Israel as a whole resisted the message being taken to the Gentiles. Les emphasizes that Paul acted in the power of the Holy Spirit, turning the matter over to God rather than acting out of human anger. He then applies Romans 11:7 and 11:25, showing the election obtained what Israel sought, while the rest were blinded, and that this blindness is "in part"—temporary—lasting until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in. Though it has now lasted over 1,900 years, it will end; one day Israel's spiritual eyes will be opened.
Paul did not respond in human anger. Acts 13:9 says he was "filled with the Holy Ghost," and Les points out that Paul did not strike out himself; he turned the matter over to God's hands and declared that the hand of the Lord was upon Elymas. The harsh language—"thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness"—was directed at a man who was actively perverting the right ways of the Lord and trying to stop the Gospel from reaching a Gentile.
Les Feldick connects Elymas's "for a season" blindness to Romans 11. The nation of Israel has been blinded, but the blindness is "in part" and has the time marker "until" (Romans 11:25). In Les's teaching, this season is the present age, already more than 1,900 years long, in which God is calling out the Gentiles and building the Body of Christ. When that fullness is complete, Israel's spiritual blindness will come to an end.
Yes. Elymas, a Jew, withstood Paul and Barnabas in an attempt to turn the Roman deputy away from the faith (Acts 13:8). Les points out that this was the pattern everywhere Paul went: the Jews were his strongest opposition, and they refused for the most part to receive Paul's message of grace. This opposition became the chief resistance to the Gospel as it turned to the Gentiles.
The Confrontation with Elymas
Les shows Paul did not act in anger but, filled with the Holy Spirit, pronounced Elymas blind and turned the matter over to God's hands.
A Season—Not Forever
Les highlights the word "season" and applies it to Israel, noting Jewish opposition followed Paul at every missionary stop.
Romans 11:7—The Election Obtained It
Les connects Elymas's temporary blindness to Israel's long but not permanent blindness, and reads Romans 11:7 as the election obtaining, the rest blinded.
Elymas Is the Perfect Picture
Les calls Elymas "the perfect picture of the nation as a whole" because the Jews were the chief opposition to Paul's message of grace.
A Long Season, Not Forever
Les returns to the Cyprus episode, reminding readers that Paul gave Elymas a blindness "for a season," indicating Israel's eyes will one day be opened.
The "Until" in Romans 11:25
Les emphasizes the time word "until" in Romans 11:25, showing Israel's blindness is temporary and tied to the fullness of the Gentiles.
The Fullness of the Gentiles
Les identifies the fullness of the Gentiles as the Body of Christ being filled as Gentiles are saved.
A Mystery Now Revealed
Les says this blindness with a time limit was a secret kept in God's mind, now revealed through Paul—Israel blind only for the present Gentile age.
Acts 13:8: But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
It records Elymas the sorcerer opposing Paul to keep the deputy from the faith.
Acts 13:9: Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him.
It shows Paul's confrontation with Elymas was Spirit-filled, not a human reaction.
Acts 13:10: And said, O full of all subtilty 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?
It records Paul's strong rebuke of Elymas for perverting God's right ways.
Acts 13:11: And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
It states explicitly that Elymas's blindness was for a season, not permanent.
Romans 11:7: What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
It shows that Israel as a whole did not obtain what it sought, while the election did.
Romans 11:25: For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
It reveals that Israel's blindness is partial and has an "until" tied to the fullness of the Gentiles.
Paul called him "full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness," and asked if he would not stop perverting the right ways of the Lord. He then declared that the hand of the Lord was upon him and he would be blind "for a season."
No. Paul declared blindness "for a season," and Les emphasizes that it was not permanent. This temporary blindness is the point of the picture.
Les teaches that Israel, like Elymas, has been spiritually blinded "in part" for a season—though that season has lasted over 1,900 years—and will one day have its spiritual eyes opened.
According to Romans 11:25, Israel's blindness continues "until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in." Les understands this as the completion of the Body of Christ, after which God will again turn to Israel.
Watch the Teaching: Israel's Blindness & the Fullness of the Gentiles — Romans 11:25