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Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

BAR-JESUS

Jewish sorcerer, a “false prophet” who worked with the governor of Paphos on the island of Cyprus (Acts 13:6). When the governor, Sergius Paulus, took an interest in the message of Paul and Barnabas, Bar-Jesus tried to influence him against their teachings. Paul confronted Bar-Jesus, denounced him as a “son of the devil,” and predicted that a temporary blindness would come upon him as a punishment from God. Bar-Jesus was instantly blinded (Acts 13:7-12), and the governor apparently became a Christian.

The many superstitious people of that day were easy prey for wonder-workers like Bar-Jesus (cf. Acts 8:9-11). The term “sorcerer” applied to him, however, connoted more than just a magician. It often referred to a wise man whose scientific understanding supposedly exceeded that of most others in that society.

Bar-Jesus was also called Elymas, which was his Greek name (Acts 13:8). It was common practice for Jews with contacts in both cultures to adopt a Greek name. According to one view, Elymas is based on an Aramaic word for “strong” and an Arabic word for “wise,” which actually means “magician.”