Acts 13:6-12
Summary for Acts 13:6-12: 13:6-12 a At Paphos there was a power struggle with a false prophet, with the result that the power of God was manifested and the Roman governor became a believer. 13:6 b Paphos was located on the southwest coast of Cyprus. As the leading city of Cyprus, it was of strategic importance.• a Jewish sorcerer ... named Bar-Jesus: Such eastern magicians often exercised a tremendous influence in the Greco-Roman world.
Summary for Acts 13:7-8: 13:7-8 c The governor, Sergius Paulus, who was an intelligent man, was attracted to the teaching of Barnabas and Saul. But Elymas (the sorcerer’s Greco-Roman name) recognized a challenge to his power and strongly opposed the message of Barnabas and Saul.
13:9 d Luke makes the significant transition from the name Saul (a Hebrew name) to Paul (a Greco-Roman name), perhaps indicating that Paul was now on a predominantly Gentile mission. For the rest of the book of Acts, he is called Paul except when he recounts his conversion (as in 22:7 e, 13 f; 26:14 g).
Summary for Acts 13:10-11: 13:10-11 h Paul, who became the chief spokesman, rebuked the sorcerer’s fraudulent claims, exposed his deceit, and pronounced divine judgment (cp. 8:20-24 i). The sorcerer was instantly struck blind, a condition that lasted for some time, giving a strong demonstration of the truthfulness and superiority of the apostolic message over the bogus claims of the sorcerer.
13:12 j The teaching about the Lord included a miraculous demonstration of divine power (cp. Mark 1:21-27 k), for it was a teaching about the living God (see Acts 14:15 l).
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