Paul's First Missionary Journey - On Cyprus; Acts 13: 4 – 12 – Part 3

Church History: The Whole isle, from this it is evident they ran through the whole island from east to west, until they reached Paphos. This town, next in importance to Salamis, was situated on the western part of the isle; and having gone from Salamis to this place is a proof that they had gone through the whole island from east to west, according to the reading noticed above. There was probably no town in the universe more dissolute than Paphos. Here Venus had a superb temple: here she was worshipped with all her rites; and from this place she was named the Paphian Venus, the queen of Paphos. This temple and whole city were destroyed by an earthquake; so that a vestige of either no longer remains. There are two islands which go by this name, both adjoining, and on the west side of the island of Cyprus. One is called Old Paphos, the other New Paphos; the latter is probably the island mentioned here, though they are often confounded. On this island there is a Christian Church, dedicated to St. George, in which service is performed by the Greek ministers.1
When they arrived at Paphos they encountered a certain sorcerer, A magician, who used magical arts, and pretended to have commerce with supernatural agents. This was a person who dealt in sleight of hand, or leger-de-main. Similar to what I have supposed Simon Magus to be. (Acts 8:9). He was called Bar-Jesus - That is, the son of Jesus or Joshua; as Bar-jona is the son of Jonah; Bar-tholomew, the son of Thalmi, etc. His name ment Elymas, and that is what Paul called him. Sergius Paulus was the proconsul, The Roman governor of Cyprus, he was a careful and responsible man, not over swayed by Elymas, but desirous to inquire farther, the teachings of the Gospel. Elymas resisted them. He was afraid that if the influence of Saul and Barnabas were extended over the proconsul, that he would be seen to be as an impostor, and his power would end. His interest, therefore, led him to oppose the gospel, His own popularity was at stake; and being governed by this, he opposed the gospel of God. The love of popularity and power, the desire of retaining some political influence, is often a strong reason why men oppose the gospel.