Overview
Elymas (also called Bar-Jesus) was a magician who served Sergius Paulus, the proconsul of Cyprus. When Paul and Barnabas preached the gospel to Sergius Paulus, Elymas actively opposed them, attempting to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, pronounced God's judgment upon him, and Elymas was immediately struck with blindness.
Key Scriptures
"But Elymas the magician (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith" (Acts 13:8, NIV).
"Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun" (Acts 13:11, NIV).
"When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord" (Acts 13:12, NIV).
Application
Elymas's story reminds us that spiritual opposition to the gospel ultimately fails before God's power, and that divine judgment can open hearts to believe.