Acts xiii. 6.BAR-JESUS, or according to some copies, Bar-jéu, was a Jewish Magician living in the isle of Crete. S. Luke calls him Elymas, which in Arabick signifies, a Sorcerer. He was with the Pro-consul Sergius Paulus, who was a wise and prudent man. The Pro-consul sending for Paul and Barnabas, desired to hear the word of God. But Bar-Jesus resisted them, and endeavoured to hinder the Pro-consul from imbracing Christianity. Whereupon Paul filled with the Holy Ghost, and looking stedfastly on this man, said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the Devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind not seeing the Sun for a season. Immediately he was struck blind, and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. The Pro-consul, who was an Eye-witness of this miracle, was converted by it. Origen1, and S. Chrysostom2, think that Elymas or Bar-Jesus was converted likewise, and that S. Paul restored his sight.
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