View source for Elymas

{{Short description|Jewish magus depicted in the Acts of the Apostles}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Elymas
| image              = PM 080776b E Madrid n (cropped).jpg
| image_size         = 250px
| caption            = ''Elymas Struck Blind'' (''La ceguera de Elymas'') ([[Raphael]], 1519)
| nationality        = [[Paphos]], [[Roman Cyprus]]
| occupation         = [[Magician (paranormal)|Sorcerer]]
}}
'''Elymas''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɛ|l|ᵻ|m|ə|s}}; {{langx|grc|Ἐλύμας}};<ref name="Acts 13">[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0155%3Abook%3DActs%3Achapter%3D13 Acts 13]</ref> {{circa|1st century AD}}), also known as '''Bar-Jesus''' ({{langx|grc|Βαριησοῦς}},<ref name="Acts 13"/> {{langx|arc|Bar-Shuma}}, {{langx|la|Bariesu}}), is a [[Jews|Jew]] described in the [[Acts of the Apostles]], chapter 13,<ref>{{bibleverse||Acts|13}}</ref> in the [[New Testament]]. He is referred to as a ''mágos'' (μάγος), which the [[King James Version of the Bible|King James Bible]] translates as "sorcerer" and false prophet (ψευδοπροφήτης).<ref name="Acts 13"/>
==In the Bible==
In Acts 13, [[Paul the Apostle]] and [[Barnabas]] travel to the city of [[Paphos]] in [[Roman Cyprus|Cyprus]], where the Roman [[Proconsul]], [[Sergius Paulus]], wishes to hear them speak about [[Jesus]]. Elymas, described as a false prophet and a sorcerer, opposes them, whereupon Paul (who is here referred to for the first time by his [[Roman name]]) announces that God intends to make Elymas temporarily [[Blindness|blind]]. A cloud of darkness immediately begins blocking his sight;<ref>"Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand"; {{bibleverse||Acts|13:11}}</ref> after this, Sergius Paulus is converted to Christianity.<ref>"When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord"; {{bibleverse||Acts|13:12}}</ref>
According to ''[[The Golden Legend]]'', Elymas later stirred up a riot of Jews and pagans in Salamina ([[Salamis, Cyprus|Salamis]]) against Barnabas, resulting in his death.<ref>{{cite book |author=Jacobus de Voragine |date=2012 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GNWZgIL5ZCoC&pg=PA321 |chapter=Saint Barnabas, Apostle |title=The Golden Legend |translator=William Granger Ryan |publisher=Princeton University Press |page=321 |isbn=978-0-691-15407-7}}</ref>
=== Name ===
Acts 13:8 says, "Elymas the ''mágos'' (for so his name is translated) opposed them". "Elymas" is possibly derived from the Arabic ''‘alīm'' "learned" or "wise", and may be used to translate ''mágos''.<ref>Ernest Haenchen, ''The Acts of the Apostles: A Commentary'', Philadelphia: The Westminster Press,  1971, pg. 398; {{ISBN|0-664-20919-X}}</ref> ''Bar-Jesus'' means "Son of [[Joshua]]" or "Son of Jesus" in [[Aramaic]].
==Cultural influence==
"Elymas the Sorcerer Struck with Blindness" is the title of a famous [[Raphael Cartoons|cartoon]] by [[Raphael]], which served as the inspiration for woven tapestries in the [[Vatican City|Vatican]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Raphael Tapestry: The Blinding of Elymas |publisher=PAVM: Michigan Chapter |url=http://www.mipatrons.com/raphael-tapestry-the-blinding-of-elymas/|access-date=2020-07-20|language=en-US}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[Apollonius of Tyana]]
* [[Jesus of Nazareth]]
* [[John the Baptist]]
* [[Simon Magus]]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{New Testament people}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:1st-century Jews]]
[[Category:1st-century Romans]]
[[Category:Ancient occultists]]
[[Category:Magic (supernatural)]]
[[Category:People from Paphos]]
[[Category:People in Acts of the Apostles]]
[[Category:Prophets]]
[[Category:Roman Cyprus]]
[[Category:European witchcraft]]
[[Category:Asian witchcraft]]
{{Christianity-stub}}
{{Cyprus-politician-stub}}
{{magic-stub}}