Blinding of Elymas
Chapter Thirteen of the book of Acts gives the account of a meeting between two men. One of the men, Saul, also known as Paul the Apostle, had previously been blinded by God. The other man, Elymas, also known as Bar-Jesus, a sorcerer in the employ of Sergius Paulus, the Roman proconsul of Cyprus, was soon to be blinded. The meeting was not by chance. God had commissioned and sent Paul and his fellow missionary, Barnabas, out to share the Gospel among the gentile nations.
According to Luke, the author of Acts, the proconsul heard that Saul and Barnabas were in his area, so he requested an audience with the missionaries. Luke explained that Paulus was an “intelligent man” and wanted to “hear the Word of God.” It seems that Elymas was opposed to this meeting and worked to draw his employer “from the faith.” Elymas was not interested in having the proconsul understand the truth.
Paul and Elymas were both blinded, but for different reasons.
Seeing the action of the sorcerer and understanding its purpose, Saul, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied that because Elymas was a “child of the devil” and opposed to “what was right,” the hand of the Lord was against him. The apostle pointed out the man’s trickery and deceit and questioned whether he would “never stop perverting the way of the Lord?” Evidently, Elymas had made it his profession to lead people, like the proconsul, away from the truth of God’s Word.
According to Paul, God had enough of the sorcerer’s actions and would blind him for a time. That is exactly what happened, and it immediately happened. While the missionaries, the proconsul, and others in attendance watched, Elymas was blinded. He could not even move around the room but “groped about” and needed someone to lead him by the hand. Upon seeing this happen, Sergius Paulus believed the Gospel and was “amazed at the teaching of Jesus.” While the sorcerer was led into darkness, the proconsul was led from darkness into the Light of a Savior. Hallelujah!
In this story, we have an interesting comparison. In one man, we have an individual who zealously persecuted the believers of Christ Jesus. Saul's zeal and effectiveness were such that he was responsible for scattering the believers out of Jerusalem and even out of the province of Israel into the surrounding countries. Saul was initially responsible for spreading the Gospel as an antagonist of it. But God turned the tables on him, blinding him for a time. Paul came to know the truth of Jesus Christ through this event and subsequently studied all he could about Jesus, becoming the foremost missionary to the Gentiles. Despite intense persecution directed toward him, he spread the Gospel to the world.
Now, let’s juxtapose Elymas with what we understand about Paul. Elymas was a man devoted to deception. He thrived on misleading others. He got drunk on the power of holding people, like the proconsul, hostage to false doctrine and untruth. He was a child of the devil and had learned well the tricks of his master. Elymas was spiritually blind, so God blinded him physically as well. We have no definitive account of what Elymas did after regaining his physical sight..
However, the Bible clearly shows that one man was blinded in preparation for service to the Lord. That man went on to show people the Way, the Truth, and the Life. On the other hand, a man was blinded because he served the enemies of God. We leave that man groping in darkness, unable to see light at all. By the grace of God, both of these men regained their physical sight. Unfortunately, it is uncertain whether Elymas ever gained spiritual sight. If you find yourself groping in spiritual darkness, I encourage you to follow Paul’s lead and search the scriptures for the Truth that will reveal to you the true Light.