Bar-Jesus
PeopleWhat is the meaning of Bar-Jesus in the Bible?
Bar-Jesus, identified in Acts 13:6-12 as Elymas, was a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet serving as an advisor to Sergius Paulus, the Roman proconsul of Cyprus. He encountered the apostles Paul and Barnabas and attempted to prevent the proconsul from accepting their message, resulting in Paul striking him with temporary blindness.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding Bar-Jesus clarifies the historical tension between early Christian missionaries and established local religious authorities, demonstrating how the narrative uses his opposition to validate the divine authority of the apostles and the sincerity of the proconsul's conversion.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
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Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.