Illustration created for this project.
Elymas
A Jewish sorcerer at Paphos, struck blind for opposing Paul before the proconsul.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1
Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 1
Origin & birthplace
Name & titles
ScholarlyLuke supplies a gloss for the name Elymas, but its etymology is genuinely disputed among scholars, with proposals connecting it to a Semitic root for wise/learned (Arabic alim) or treating it as a title for a magus rather than a personal name; he is also identified as Bar-Jesus, an Aramaic patronymic meaning son of Jesus/Joshua.
Onomastic crux discussed in Acts commentaries (e.g. Barrett, Fitzmyer); no consensus derivation.
Where in scripture
ActsPlaces in their life
Photo: Dmitry Panov — CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)