The Sorcerer Who Fought the Gospel
Bar-jesus is one of the most intriguing and dangerous adversaries encountered by the Apostles during the early expansion of the Church. His story, recorded in the Book of Acts, serves as a powerful testament to the reality of spiritual warfare and the ultimate triumph of Christ’s authority over the powers of darkness.
The name Bar-jesus literally means “son of Jesus” (or son of Joshua), which is a profound irony, as he was an opponent of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was also known by his title, Elymas the sorcerer.
The Setting: The Island of Paphos
Bar-jesus was a Jewish false prophet and sorcerer (a practitioner of magic and divination) who held a position of influence on the island of Cyprus. He was an attendant of Sergius Paulus, the Roman proconsul (the governor of the island). This position gave him both political power and access to a powerful government official.
The confrontation occurred when the Apostle Paul (then called Saul) and Barnabas arrived on Cyprus during their first missionary journey. Sergius Paulus, a wise and thoughtful man, summoned the Apostles, desiring to hear the word of God.
Acts 13:7 (KJV): “Which was with the proconsul of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.”
The Spiritual Opposition
Bar-jesus, whose true power source was not Christ but spiritual deception, immediately sought to sabotage the Apostles’ ministry and keep the proconsul enslaved to his influence. He actively tried to turn Sergius Paulus away from the Christian faith.
Acts 13:8 (KJV): “But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the proconsul from the faith.”
This encounter is the classic “Defence of the Truth” moment: the message of salvation was directly challenged by the practice of sorcery and the spirit of deception.
The Apostolic Judgment
At this crucial juncture, the Apostle Paul (who is referred to as Saul for the last time in this account before being called Paul, Acts 13:9, KJV), filled with the Holy Ghost, looked directly at Bar-jesus and delivered a blistering rebuke, exposing the sorcerer’s true spiritual lineage.
Acts 13:10 (KJV): “And said, O full of all subtlety 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?”
Paul then pronounced a direct, physical judgment that served as a powerful sign to the skeptical Roman official:
Acts 13:11 (KJV): “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.”
Bar-jesus, the supposed “son of Jesus,” was struck blind by the power of the one true Jesus Christ. He became a living example of the spiritual blindness he sought to inflict on the proconsul.
The Triumph of the Gospel
The immediate and undeniable nature of the judgment had the desired effect. Sergius Paulus, seeing the display of divine power and the clarity of the doctrine, believed the Gospel.
Acts 13:12 (KJV): “Then the proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.”
The defeat of Bar-jesus marked a key victory, establishing the superiority of Christ’s power over occult practices and securing a major conversion in a Roman official, thus opening a door for the spread of the Gospel.
The Defence of Righteousness
Bar-jesus stands as a perpetual warning against those who mix truth with deceit for personal or political gain. His story teaches the “Defence of the Truth” that:
- Spiritual Blindness is Real: The one who claimed special knowledge was himself struck blind, symbolizing the spiritual darkness that overtakes those who reject the light of the Gospel.
- Witchcraft is the Enemy of Righteousness: The practices of sorcery and divination are not harmless; they are condemned as being the work of the “child of the devil.”
- The Power of Truth: The truth of the Lord, when spoken in the Holy Ghost, has the authority to expose, judge, and overcome all subtle and mischievous opposition.
For those awaiting the Lord’s Return, the encounter with Bar-jesus confirms that the final victory of Christ will be absolute, striking down all earthly and spiritual powers that oppose His righteous dominion.