Acts 13:11

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And now, behold, the hand of the Lord [is] upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

Complete Jewish Bible:

So now, look! The hand of the Lord is upon you; and for a while you will be blind, unable to see the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over Elymas; and he groped about, trying to find someone to lead him by the hand.

Berean Standard Bible:

Now look, the hand of the Lord is against you, and for a time you will be blind and unable to see the light of the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

American Standard Version:

And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And^{G2532} now^{G3568}, behold^{G2400}, the hand^{G5495} of the Lord^{G2962} is upon^{G1909} thee^{G4571}, and^{G2532} thou shalt be^{G2071} blind^{G5185}, not^{G3361} seeing^{G991} the sun^{G2246} for^{G891} a season^{G2540}. And^{G1161} immediately^{G3916} there fell^{G1968} on^{G1909} him^{G846} a mist^{G887} and^{G2532} a darkness^{G4655}; and^{G2532} he went about^{G4013} seeking^{G2212} some to lead him by the hand^{G5497}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Psalms 32:4

For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.

Exodus 9:3

Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which [is] in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: [there shall be] a very grievous murrain.

Hebrews 10:31

[It is] a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

1 Samuel 5:11

So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.

John 9:39

¶ And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

2 Peter 2:17

These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

Job 19:21

Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.

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Commentary for Acts 13:11

Acts 13:11 is a verse set within the context of the early Christian church's missionary journeys, specifically the first journey of Paul and Barnabas. This verse is part of a narrative where the proconsul Sergius Paulus, a Roman official on the island of Cyprus, has summoned Paul and Barnabas to hear the word of God. The proconsul is described as being influenced by a Jewish sorcerer named Elymas, who is attempting to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

In this verse, the Apostle Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, directly addresses Elymas, pronouncing divine judgment upon him. The themes present include divine authority, spiritual conflict, and the consequences of opposing God's will. Paul declares that the hand of the Lord is upon Elymas, indicating God's active intervention. The judgment is specific and temporary: Elymas will be struck blind, a condition that symbolizes both the spiritual blindness he has been causing in the proconsul and a literal, physical manifestation of divine power.

The historical context of this event reflects the tension between the spreading Christian message and the existing religious and political structures of the time. The reference to the "hand of the Lord" being upon someone recalls similar instances in the Old Testament where God's power was made evident through prophets and judges. The immediate onset of blindness and darkness upon Elymas serves as a tangible sign of God's power and Paul's apostolic authority, reinforcing the message that the early Christians are proclaiming.

This verse also highlights the early Church's encounters with various forms of opposition, including magical practices, and demonstrates the power of the Gospel to overcome such obstacles. The blinding of Elymas is a dramatic example of God's judgment on those who would hinder the spread of the Christian faith, and it serves as a turning point in the narrative, leading to the conversion of Sergius Paulus, who is astonished at the teaching about the Lord.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

Strong's Number: G2532
There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: καί
Transliteration: kaí
Pronunciation: kahee
Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Strong's Number: G3568
There are 133 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: νῦν
Transliteration: nŷn
Pronunciation: noon
Description: a primary particle of present time; "now" (as adverb of date, a transition or emphasis); also as noun or adjective present or immediate:--henceforth, + hereafter, of late, soon, present, this (time). See also τανῦν, νυνί.
Strong's Number: G2400
There are 204 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἰδού
Transliteration: idoú
Pronunciation: id-oo'
Description: second person singular imperative middle voice of εἴδω; used as imperative lo!; --behold, lo, see.
Strong's Number: G5495
There are 171 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: χείρ
Transliteration: cheír
Pronunciation: khire
Description: perhaps from the base of χειμών in the sense of its congener the base of χάσμα (through the idea of hollowness for grasping); the hand (literally or figuratively (power); especially (by Hebraism) a means or instrument):--hand.
Strong's Number: G2962
There are 687 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: κύριος
Transliteration: kýrios
Pronunciation: koo'-ree-os
Description: from (supremacy); supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title):-- God, Lord, master, Sir.
Strong's Number: G1909
There are 790 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐπί
Transliteration: epí
Pronunciation: ep-ee'
Description: a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.:--about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).
Strong's Number: G4571
There are 179 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: σέ
Transliteration: sé
Pronunciation: seh
Description: accusative case singular of σύ; thee:--thee, thou, X thy house.
Strong's Number: G2071
There are 170 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἔσομαι
Transliteration: ésomai
Pronunciation: es'-om-ahee
Description: future of εἰμί; will be:--shall (should) be (have), (shall) come (to pass), X may have, X fall, what would follow, X live long, X sojourn.
Strong's Number: G5185
There are 48 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: τυφλός
Transliteration: typhlós
Pronunciation: toof-los'
Description: from, τυφόω; opaque (as if smoky), i.e. (by analogy) blind (physically or mentally):--blind.
Strong's Number: G3361
There are 602 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: μή
Transliteration: mḗ
Pronunciation: may
Description: a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas οὐ expresses an absolute denial); (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas οὐ expects an affirmative one)) whether:--any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations. See also ἐὰν μή, ἵνα μή, οὐ μή, μῆκος, μηκύνω, μήν, μὴ οὐκ.
Strong's Number: G991
There are 119 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: βλέπω
Transliteration: blépō
Pronunciation: blep'-o
Description: a primary verb; to look at (literally or figuratively):--behold, beware, lie, look (on, to), perceive, regard, see, sight, take heed. Compare ὀπτάνομαι.
Strong's Number: G2246
There are 32 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἥλιος
Transliteration: hḗlios
Pronunciation: hay'-lee-os
Description: from (a ray; perhaps akin to the alternate of αἱρέομαι); the sun; by implication, light:--+ east, sun.
Strong's Number: G891
There are 49 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἄχρι
Transliteration: áchri
Pronunciation: akh'-rece
Description: akin to ἄκρον (through the idea of a terminus); (of time) until or (of place) up to:--as far as, for, in(-to), till, (even, un-)to, until, while. Compare μέχρι.
Strong's Number: G2540
There are 82 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: καιρός
Transliteration: kairós
Pronunciation: kahee-ros'
Description: of uncertain affinity; an occasion, i.e. set or proper time:--X always, opportunity, (convenient, due) season, (due, short, while) time, a while. Compare χρόνος.
Strong's Number: G1161
There are 2556 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: δέ
Transliteration: dé
Pronunciation: deh
Description: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
Strong's Number: G3916
There are 19 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: παραχρῆμα
Transliteration: parachrēma
Pronunciation: par-akh-ray'-mah
Description: from παρά and χρῆμα (in its original sense); at the thing itself, i.e. instantly:--forthwith, immediately, presently, straightway, soon.
Strong's Number: G1968
There are 13 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐπιπίπτω
Transliteration: epipíptō
Pronunciation: ep-ee-pip'-to
Description: from ἐπί and πίπτω; to embrace (with affection) or seize (with more or less violence; literally or figuratively):--fall into (on, upon) lie on, press upon.
Strong's Number: G846
There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: αὐτός
Transliteration: autós
Pronunciation: ow-tos'
Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ.
Strong's Number: G887
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἀχλύς
Transliteration: achlýs
Pronunciation: akh-looce'
Description: of uncertain derivation; dimness of sight, i.e. (probably) a cataract:--mist.
Strong's Number: G4655
There are 31 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: σκότος
Transliteration: skótos
Pronunciation: skot'-os
Description: from the base of σκιά; shadiness, i.e. obscurity (literally or figuratively):--darkness.
Strong's Number: G4013
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: περιάγω
Transliteration: periágō
Pronunciation: per-ee-ag'-o
Description: from περί and ἄγω; to take around (as a companion); reflexively, to walk around:--compass, go (round) about, lead about.
Strong's Number: G2212
There are 116 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ζητέω
Transliteration: zētéō
Pronunciation: dzay-teh'-o
Description: of uncertain affinity; to seek (literally or figuratively); specially, (by Hebraism) to worship (God), or (in a bad sense) to plot (against life):--be (go) about, desire, endeavour, enquire (for), require, (X will) seek (after, for, means). Compare πυνθάνομαι.
Strong's Number: G5497
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: χειραγωγός
Transliteration: cheiragōgós
Pronunciation: khi-rag-o-gos'
Description: from χείρ and a reduplicated form of ἄγω; a hand-leader, i.e. personal conductor (of a blind person):--some to lead by the hand.

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