Bar-Jesus, also known as Elymas, was a Jewish sorcerer who appears in the New Testament book of Acts. His story is recounted in Acts 13:6-12.
According to Acts, Paul and Barnabas encountered Bar-Jesus when they visited the island of Cyprus to spread the gospel. They came to the city of Paphos, where the Roman proconsul Sergius Paulus lived. Sergius Paulus summoned Paul and Barnabas because he wanted to hear the word of God.
But Bar-Jesus (described as a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet) was with Sergius Paulus and tried to turn him away from the faith. The Bible says Bar-Jesus opposed Paul and Barnabas, seeking to “turn the proconsul away from the faith” (Acts 13:8).
Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, rebuked Bar-Jesus and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?” (Acts 13:10).
After this harsh rebuke, Paul pronounced a judgment on Bar-Jesus, saying, “And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness came over Bar-Jesus, and he went around seeking people to lead him by the hand (Acts 13:11).
When the proconsul Sergius Paulus saw this, he was amazed and believed in Christ. Thus, Bar-Jesus’s attempt to stop Sergius Paulus from converting was thwarted.
This story reveals a few key things about Bar-Jesus:
- He was a Jew, as his name indicates (“bar” means “son of” in Aramaic).
- He practiced sorcery and magic arts.
- He was identified as a false prophet.
- He opposed the spread of the Christian faith.
- Paul inflicted him with temporary blindness as judgment for his deception and opposition.
The passage also provides the only Biblical record of Sergius Paulus, an otherwise unknown Roman proconsul who ruled Cyprus. Thanks to Paul’s miracle against Bar-Jesus, Sergius Paulus believed in Jesus.
Beyond this account, the Bible provides no further information about Bar-Jesus’s identity, background, or life either before or after his encounter with Paul. Some key questions about him remain unanswered:
- Where and when was he born?
- How did he become involved in sorcery and prophecy?
- Did he continue practicing sorcery after being blinded?
- Did he ever renounce his opposition to Christianity?
Bar-Jesus illustrates the cultural landscape of the 1st century Roman empire, where magicians and sorcerers could gain prominence and influence. His story also demonstrates the power of the gospel. Despite Bar-Jesus’s best efforts to stop Sergius Paulus from believing, the proconsul was still converted by witnessing Paul’s miracles and teaching.
This account is a reminder that supernatural opposition to the gospel can be overcome when believers operate in spiritual power and authority. Bar-Jesus sought to hinder the work of God through deception and sorcery. But he was no match for the Spirit-empowered ministry of Paul.
The name Elymas is connected to Bar-Jesus in some Bible translations. In Acts 13:8, some versions call him “Elymas the sorcerer” while others say “Bar-Jesus.” Elymas is possibly the Greek version of his Aramaic name Bar-Jesus.
Key Details about Bar-Jesus in Acts 13:
- He was present when Paul and Barnabas visited Paphos to share the gospel (Acts 13:6-7)
- He was identified as a Jewish magi or sorcerer (Acts 13:6, 8)
- He was called a false prophet (Acts 13:6)
- He sought to turn Sergius Paulus from the faith (Acts 13:8)
- Paul rebuked him strongly and cursed him with temporary blindness (Acts 13:9-11)
- This caused Sergius Paulus to believe in Christ (Acts 13:12)
Analyzing Bar-Jesus’s Role and Significance
When analyzing the character of Bar-Jesus in Acts 13, several important questions arise:
- Why did Bar-Jesus oppose Paul and Barnabas? As a sorcerer, he likely wanted to maintain his position of influence with Sergius Paulus. The gospel threatened that influence.
- What methods did he use to “turn Sergius Paulus from the faith”? The text doesn’t specify, but he likely used manipulative and deceptive rhetoric.
- Why was Paul so harsh in rebuking him? Paul discerned the deceptive nature of Bar-Jesus’s methods and wanted to expose him.
- How did Bar-Jesus’s blindness help convert Sergius Paulus? It showed the proconsul that Paul carried real spiritual authority from God.
- What motivated Sergius Paulus to listen to Paul and Barnabas? As a intelligent leader, he was interested in truth. But he was being deceived by Bar-Jesus.
So in many ways, Bar-Jesus serves as a foil and obstacle to help demonstrate the power of the gospel. His false influence is overturned, allowing the truth to prevail. This account also shows Paul’s authority as an apostle in pronouncing judgment on those who oppose the faith.
Bar-Jesus and Sergius Paulus as Representative Figures
The characters of Bar-Jesus and Sergius Paulus can also be seen as representative of different groups:
- Bar-Jesus – Represents religious leaders who use deception and manipulation to maintain power and influence.
- Sergius Paulus – Represents open-minded intellectuals who are interested in truth and amenable to the gospel.
Within first century cultures, these men epitomize two common responses to the Christian message:
- Hostile rejection – Exemplified by Bar-Jesus stubbornly opposing the faith and seeking to undermine it.
- Open reception – Exemplified by Sergius Paulus welcoming new ideas and recognizing truth, despite previous deception.
Luke purposefully contrasts these characters to illustrate how the gospel divides its hearers. Some obstinately reject it, while others joyfully accept it. Sergius Paulus models an appropriate response when confronted with the authentic power and message of the gospel.
Important Lessons
The account of Bar-Jesus provides some important lessons for Christians today:
- Expect supernatural opposition. Like Bar-Jesus, demonic forces continue to oppose the spread of the gospel through deceptive means.
- Rely on the Spirit’s power. As Paul demonstrated, believers have access to greater spiritual power through the Holy Spirit.
- Expose deception boldly. Following Paul’s example, Christians should not shy away from confronting spiritual falsehood and deception.
- Proclaim the gospel boldly. Even in situations of opposition, believers should continue proclaiming the good news of Christ courageously.
- Pray for receptivity. Only God can open people’s hearts to receive the gospel, as He did with Sergius Paulus. Prayer is key.
Bar-Jesus illustrates that spiritual darkness will always try to extinguish the light of the gospel. But Christ promised that the very gates of Hell will not overcome His church (Matthew 16:18). The story encourages readers to trust in God’s sovereign power at work through His messengers.
Other Figures Named Bar-Jesus
This Bar-Jesus from Acts should not be confused with other “Bar-Jesus” figures in ancient sources:
- Bar-Jesus from the Gospel of Matthew – Some manuscripts of Matthew 27:16-17 refer to the prisoner released by Pilate as “Jesus Barabbas” or “Bar-Jesus.” Nearly all modern translations leave out “Jesus.”
- A false messiah named Bar-Jesus – Jewish historian Josephus wrote about a sorcerer named Bar-Jesus who deceived many Jews in the early 60s AD claiming to be a messiah.
So the Bar-Jesus from Acts 13 represents a specific individual, likely active in the middle first century AD. He is not associated with these other figures, despite the shared name.
Bar-Jesus and Sorcery in the New Testament
The figure of Bar-Jesus fits within a larger New Testament pattern of portraying magic and sorcery negatively. Other examples include:
- Simon the sorcerer (Acts 8:9-24) who tried to buy the power of the Holy Spirit from Peter and John.
- The magicians Elymas and Jannes who opposed Moses (2 Timothy 3:8).
- The slave girl with a spirit of divination (Acts 16:16-18).
- Those who practiced magic arts and repented in Ephesus (Acts 19:17-19).
In each case, sorcery stems from demonic influence and stands in opposition to the gospel. The writers present magic as inferior to the power of Christ.
This messaging reflects the larger worldview shift occurring in the first century Roman empire. As Christianity spread, the New Testament authors sought to differentiate the miracles of Christ from pagan magic arts that relied on rituals, incantations, and astrology.
The Name Bar-Jesus
The name Bar-Jesus highlights an interesting aspect of the account in Acts 13.
“Bar” means “son of” in Aramaic. So Bar-Jesus literally means “son of Jesus” or “son of Joshua.” It may have been a common name among Jews.
But Luke’s inclusion of this name sets up an ironic contrast. The false prophet Bar-Jesus stands opposed to Paul, who represents the true Jesus. Bar-Jesus temporarily blinds Paul, but then suffers permanent blindness himself from the hand of God.
So “Bar-Jesus” is ultimately overcome by the power and authority of the true Jesus. The details, as always in the book of Acts, emphasize that the church’s advance is unstoppable, despite opposition from false prophets.
Conclusion
In summary, Bar-Jesus was a 1st century Jewish sorcerer who appears briefly in Acts 13. He unsuccessfully tries to prevent the Roman proconsul Sergius Paulus from converting to Christianity.
His story highlights key spiritual themes about responding to the gospel. It also demonstrates Paul’s apostolic authority and the supernatural opposition faced by early evangelists. For readers today, it remains an encouragement to proclaim the gospel boldly, despite resistance from worldly powers and spiritual falsehood.