SEV Biblia, Chapter 13:8
Pero les resistía Elimas, el sabio (que así se interpreta su nombre), procurando apartar de la fe al procnsul.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 13:8
Verse 8. But Elymas, the sorcerer, (for so is his name by interpretation)] That is, Elymas is the interpretation of the word magov, or sorcerer; not of the word Bar-Jesus as some have imagined; and to support which they have been led into strange etymologies on the word bar-ihsouv, Bar-Jesus. But how is Elymas, elumav, the interpretation of the word magov, magician or sorcerer? Ans. Both names are Asiatic; but neither Hebrew nor Greek. I have already observed, in the note on Matt. ii. 1, that (Persic) mogh in Persian means an idolater, a worshipper of fire, and sometimes what we term a magician. Elymas is from the Arabic (Arabic) ilm, knowledge, science, doctrine, art; from alama, he was wise, skilled, &c.; hence (Persic) aleem or alymon, a doctor or learned man, and, with the Greek termination, elumav, Elymas, the interpretation of (Persic) mogh, Greek magov, magos, a magician, a wise man, doctor, &c.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 8. But Elymas the sorcerer, for so is his name by interpretation , etc.] Not that Magus a sorcerer is by interpretation Elymas; as if Luke was interpreting the Persic word Magus, which is sometimes used in a good sense, for a wise man, as in ( Matthew 2:1) by an Arabic word Elim, which signifies knowing; but Elymas is the interpretation of his name Bar-jesus; which as that signifies the son of salvation, or of healing, so this, as Deuteronomy Dieu observes, may be derived from lj , Chalam, which signifies to heal, or to be sound and in health. Junius thinks the name comes from the Arabic word ala , which signifies to mutter, as wizards and sorcerers, and such sort of men used to do; and though he rejects the opinion of Tremellius, taking it for an Hebrew name, and to be the same with U[myla Elimaatz, which signifies divine counsel; yet this, or what is near to it, is embraced by a late learned man who observes, that Elymas is in Hebrew, U[mla , Elmahatz; the interpretation of which is, Gods counsel, or the counsel of God; the name of a man, Maaz, is read in ( 1 Chronicles 2:27) and that it is the same with Elymoteros, as Olympas is the same with Olympiodorus; and he further observes, that Barjeus, as Jerom or Origen say it was anciently read, and not Bar-jesus, is the same with Uw[y rb , Barjeutz, or Barjeus, the son of counsel, and so agrees with Elymas: now he withstood them : Saul and Barnabas, just as Jannes and Jambres, the magicians of Egypt, withstood Moses: he did all he could to prevent their coming into the governors house, and them from preaching to him, and him from hearing of them; and especially from giving heed to, and embracing the doctrines preached by them; which he opposed and argued against, with all the cunning and sophistry he was master of: seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith ; the doctrine of faith, from hearing and receiving it; and when he had received it, he endeavoured to set him against it, and cause him to deny and reject it with abhorrence; the Ethiopic version calls him the king, as in the former verse the prince.
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
ανθιστατο 436 5710 V-IMI-3S δε 1161 CONJ αυτοις 846 P-DPM ελυμας 1681 N-NSM ο 3588 T-NSM μαγος 3097 N-NSM ουτως 3779 ADV γαρ 1063 CONJ μεθερμηνευεται 3177 5743 V-PPI-3S το 3588 T-NSN ονομα 3686 N-NSN αυτου 846 P-GSM ζητων 2212 5723 V-PAP-NSM διαστρεψαι 1294 5658 V-AAN τον 3588 T-ASM ανθυπατον 446 N-ASM απο 575 PREP της 3588 T-GSF πιστεως 4102 N-GSF
Vincent's NT Word Studies
8. Elymas. An Arabic word, meaning the wise, and equivalent to Magus. See on ver. 6.Withstood. "The position of soothsayer to a Roman proconsul, even though it could only last a year, was too distinguished and too lucrative to abandon without a struggle" (Farrar, "Life and Work of Paul").
Robertson's NT Word Studies
13:8 {Withstood them} (anqistato autois). Imperfect middle of anqistemi, to stand against (face to face). Dative case (autois). He persisted in his opposition and was unwilling to lose his great prize. There may have been a public discussion between Elymas and Saul. {To turn aside} (diastreyai). First aorist active infinitive of diastrefw, old verb to turn or twist in two, to distort, to pervert (cf. #Mt 17:17; Lu 23:2).
