Acts 13:10

And 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 right ways of the Lord?

And said {G2036}, O {G5599} full {G4134} of all {G3956} subtilty {G1388} and {G2532} all {G3956} mischief {G4468}, thou child {G5207} of the devil {G1228}, thou enemy {G2190} of all {G3956} righteousness {G1343}, wilt thou {G3973} not {G3756} cease {G3973} to pervert {G1294} the right {G2117} ways {G3598} of the Lord {G2962}?

“You son of Satan, full of fraud and evil! You enemy of everything good! Won’t you ever stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?

and said, “O child of the devil and enemy of all righteousness, you are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery! Will you never stop perverting the straight ways of the Lord?

and said, O full of all guile and all villany, thou son of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

Context

Acts 13:10 captures a pivotal moment during Paul's first missionary journey, as he and Barnabas are ministering in Paphos, Cyprus. They encounter Sergius Paulus, the Roman proconsul, who is eager to hear the Word of God. However, a Jewish sorcerer named Elymas, also known as Bar-jesus, actively opposes them, attempting to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Paul directly confronts Elymas in this verse, delivering a powerful rebuke.

Key Themes

  • Spiritual Confrontation: This verse highlights the reality of spiritual warfare, where the proclamation of the Gospel meets direct opposition from forces aligned with evil. Paul's words are not merely human anger but a divinely inspired denunciation of spiritual darkness.
  • Truth vs. Deception: Elymas represents those who seek to "pervert the right ways of the Lord," twisting truth and leading people astray. Paul, guided by the Spirit, stands as an advocate for God's clear and righteous path.
  • The Nature of Evil: Paul's description of Elymas as "full of all subtilty and all mischief" and a "child of the devil" reveals the insidious and destructive character of unrighteousness, which seeks to hinder divine purposes.
  • Divine Authority: Paul's bold and authoritative rebuke demonstrates the power of God operating through His servants, confronting and overcoming spiritual opposition. This confrontation leads to Elymas's temporary blindness, a sign validating Paul's words (Acts 13:11).

Linguistic Insights

  • The term "subtilty" (Greek: dolos) refers to deceit, cunning, or trickery, emphasizing Elymas's deceptive nature.
  • "Mischief" (Greek: rhadiourgia) denotes unscrupulousness, villainy, or a readiness to do evil, highlighting his malicious intent.
  • Calling Elymas a "child of the devil" (Greek: huios diabolou) is a profound spiritual indictment. It signifies that his character and actions are aligned with the devil's purposes, much like Jesus described those who opposed Him as having the devil as their father in John 8:44.
  • To "pervert" (Greek: diastrephō) means to twist, distort, or turn aside from the correct path. Elymas was actively trying to distort the clear message of the Lord.

Practical Application

This passage reminds believers that declaring the Gospel will often encounter spiritual resistance and attempts to deceive or mislead. Like Paul, we are called to be discerning and, when necessary, to boldly confront spiritual opposition with truth and the authority given by the Holy Spirit. It encourages us to stand firm against those who seek to "pervert the right ways of the Lord," knowing that God's power is greater than any scheme of the enemy. Our mission is to illuminate God's truth, even in the face of spiritual darkness, confident that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of evil.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • John 8:44

    Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

  • Hosea 14:9

    Who [is] wise, and he shall understand these [things]? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD [are] right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

  • Matthew 13:38

    The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked [one];

  • Galatians 1:7

    Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:3

    But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

  • 1 John 3:8

    He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

  • Luke 11:52

    Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

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