SEV Biblia, Chapter 13:12
Entonces el procnsul, viendo lo que había sido hecho, crey, maravillado de la doctrina del Seor.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 13:12
Verse 12. The deputy-believed] This was a proof that the doctrine was true; and that the power of God, from which nothing could be concealed, and which nothing could resist, was with these preachers. Being astonished] ekplhssomenov, Being struck with astonishment, as Elymas was struck with blindness. Thus the word of God is a two-edged sword: it smites the sinner with judgment or compunction; and the sincere inquirer after truth, with conviction of its own worth and excellence.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 12. Then the deputy, when he saw what was done , etc.] That Elymas was struck with blindness immediately, and that the hand of God was manifestly in it, and there was no juggle nor magic art in the case; it was a plain fact, which was certain and visible: he believed ; in the Lord Jesus Christ, whom the apostle preached: being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord : both at what was contained in it: for there are many astonishing things in the doctrine of faith; as the birth of Christ of a virgin; the union of the two natures, divine and human, in his person; salvation through his crucifixion and death, and the resurrection of the dead, with others: and also at the miracles which attended this doctrine, and confirmed it; though the Alexandrian copy reads the words thus, being astonished, he believed in the doctrine of the Lord; which affords a very easy and natural sense, as that being filled with admiration at the striking of Elymas with blindness, he was induced to believe the doctrine of Christ, preached by Paul and Barnabas, and so the Ethiopic version renders it, he wondered, and believed in our Lord: and Bezas ancient copy, and others read, he wondered and believed in God.
This deputy we hear no more of afterwards; there is no reason to believe that he quitted his government of this island; though some pretend to say that he did, and followed the Apostle Paul, and went with him into Spain; and that he was left by him at Narbonne in Languedoc in France, and became bishop of that place; which office he held till his death. And though we read of no more converted at this time in Paphos, yet it is highly probable there were others, and that a foundation of a Gospel church state was laid in this place, even though Heathenism still continued. The temple of Venus remained in this place in the second century; and in the fourth century Venus was worshipped here; yet in the beginning of the fourth century, in the council of Nice, Cyril, bishop of Paphos, was present; and in the fifth century, a bishop of this place was at the synod of Chalcedon: and in the eighth century, Michael, bishop of Taphos, was in the Nycene synod f645 . Jerom makes mention of Hilarion, an eminent servant of Christ, who was for some time at Paphos, in the fourth century, and of the many miraculous cures he wrought here; but of the church here, or of any number of believers in Christ, he takes no notice, only of one Hesychius, a disciple; though it is certain there must be a church at this time, as before observed.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 4-13 - Satan is in a special manner busy with great men and men in power, to keep them from being religious, for their example will influence many Saul is here for the first time called Paul, and never after Saul. Sau was his name as he was a Hebrew; Paul was his name as he was a citize of Rome. Under the direct influence of the Holy Ghost, he gave Elyma his true character, but not in passion. A fulness of deceit an mischief together, make a man indeed a child of the devil. And thos who are enemies to the doctrine of Jesus, are enemies to all righteousness; for in it all righteousness is fulfilled. The ways of the Lord Jesus are the only right ways to heaven and happiness. Ther are many who not only wander from these ways themselves, but set other against these ways. They commonly are so hardened, that they will no cease to do evil. The proconsul was astonished at the force of the doctrine upon his own heart and conscience, and at the power of God by which it was confirmed. The doctrine of Christ astonishes; and the mor we know of it, the more reason we shall see to wonder at it. Those wh put their hand to the plough and look back, are not fit for the kingdo of God. Those who are not prepared to face opposition, and to endur hardship, are not fitted for the work of the ministry.
Greek Textus Receptus
τοτε 5119 ADV ιδων 1492 5631 V-2AAP-NSM ο 3588 T-NSM ανθυπατος 446 N-NSM το 3588 T-ASN γεγονος 1096 5756 V-2RAP-ASN επιστευσεν 4100 5656 V-AAI-3S εκπλησσομενος 1605 5746 V-PPP-NSM επι 1909 PREP τη 3588 T-DSF διδαχη 1322 N-DSF του 3588 T-GSM κυριου 2962 N-GSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
12. Astonished (ekplhssomenov). See on Matt. vii. 28.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
13:12 {Believed} (episteusen). Ingressive aorist active indicative. Renan considers it impossible that a Roman proconsul could be converted by a miracle. But it was the teaching about the Lord (tou kuriou, objective genitive) by which he was astonished (ekplessomenos, present passive participle of ekplessw, see on Mt 7:28) or struck out as well as by the miracle. The blindness came "immediately" (paraehrema) upon the judgment pronounced by Paul. It is possible that Sergius Paulus was converted to Christ without openly identifying himself with the Christians as his baptism is not mentioned as in the case of Cornelius. But, even if he was baptized, he need not have been deposed from his proconsulship as Furneaux and Rackham argue because his office called for "official patronage of idolatrous worship." But that could have been merely perfunctory as it probably was already. He had been a disciple of the Jewish magician, Elymas Barjesus, without losing his position. Imperial persecution against Christianity had not yet begun. Furneaux even suggests that the conversion of a proconsul to Christianity at this stage would have called for mention by the Roman and Greek historians. There is the name Sergia Paullina in a Christian cemetery in Rome which shows that one of his family was a Christian later. One will believe what he wills about Sergius Paulus, but I do not see that Luke leaves him in the category of Simon magus who "believed" (#8:13) for revenue only.
