PAUL AND MAGICIAN ELIMAS

Acts 13 6-12

PAUL AND MAGICIAN ELIMAS

Here we can find interesting comparison between Paul and Elimas. Just like Elimas Paul in the past also opposed Christians and their Gospel, seeking to turn Jews away from the faith in Christ.

Paul afflicted Elimas with blindness for his resistance to Gospel, but Paul himself also was afflicted with blindness for the same reason, but not by a man but by GOD Himself (Acts 9.1-9).

The difference between Paul and Elimas is that Paul persecute Christians and resisted Gospel because he truly and honestly believed that the teaching of Christ is false, and he attacked it as blasphemy and as false teaching and done from the heart in the name of GOD and from his personal zest for his Lord.

Elimas on the other hand as magician and as false prophets certainly performed some magic to entice proconsul in magic, and also perhaps greatly profited from his deceit and wizardry.

Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit condemned Elimas, calling him, "son of the Devil" and as, "you enemy of all righteousness." Paul rightfully judged Elimas for who he is.

Paul also announced to Elimas that, "the hand of the Lord is upon you," revealing to Elimas and to all who were present at this moment that it is not his hand will do the justice and punishment on Elimas, but it is the hand of GOD will do this.

The punishment by blindness on Elimas was temporary (verse 11), just like it happened to Paul, but how Elimas recovered from the blindness is not recorded. Did Elimas eventually turn to Christ? It is remains unknown, but because his blindness was temporary it may be suggested that he may received his vision later, from the hand of GOD or may from some Christian as it happened with Paul.

Punishment by blindness also revealed another issue, the spiritual one. Elimas, just like Paul has good physical eyesight, but both of them once were spiritually blind. So, in order to regain their physical sight, they must obtain spiritual vision and see spiritually their GOD, understand Him and His will.

In three days Paul was healed from his physical blindness after he heard the voice of GOD talking to him (Acts 9.3-9), but how long Elimas has his blindness and how he regains his physical sight remains unknown.