Then Saul, ( who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,
Saul, who is also called Paul, being filled with the Holy Spirit fixed his gaze on Elymas the sorcerer as he sought to turn Sergius Paulus the deputy away from the faith. With courage and authority from above Paul rebuked the deceiver as full of subtlety and mischief, a child of the devil and enemy of all righteousness who perverts the right ways of the Lord. Because Elymas had shut his eyes to the light of the gospel, the hand of the Lord shut his natural eyes in temporary blindness. The judgment was a call to repentance and a proof that the apostles worked by God and not by trickery, and astonished at it the deputy believed and embraced the gospel. The same filling of the Spirit still gives gospel workers power to withstand satanic influence and false theories, refining and purifying them for a higher moral standard and a burning witness.
Names, Gaze, and Setting
Saul is the same person who is also called Paul. Filled with the Holy Spirit, he fixed his gaze upon Elymas. That fixing of the eyes was a Spirit-empowered confrontation as he prepared to rebuke the wicked deceiver.
The setting was Elymas the sorcerer seeking to turn Sergius Paulus, the deputy, away from the faith. In doing so Elymas was opposing the gospel and the truth. Evil powers were working through him to turn the deputy from the faith, and to withstand that satanic influence required power from above.
Elymas welcomed satanic influence for the sake of obtaining supernatural power. He possessed a spirit of divination. Unlike most who are possessed by devils, he was not in a condition of great suffering and had no conflict with the demons.
Spirit-Empowered Rebuke and Outcome
Filled with the Holy Spirit, Paul confronted the deceiver with courage and authority, receiving power from above to withstand satanic influence, oppose deception, and rebuke him in the Spirit's power for the sake of the gospel. His fixed gaze was a Spirit-empowered confrontation as he prepared to rebuke Elymas for opposing the truth and trying to turn Sergius Paulus from the faith. He denounced Elymas as full of all subtlety and mischief, a child of the devil and enemy of all righteousness who perverts the right ways of the Lord.
He declared that the hand of the Lord would be upon Elymas to make him blind for a time, and the temporary blindness immediately fell upon him. Because Elymas had shut his eyes to the evidence and light of the gospel, his natural eyes were shut for a season. The blindness was a warning to him to repent and seek God's pardon. It also showed those watching that the apostles' miracles come from God and not from trickery or sleight of hand.
The event helped convince the deputy of the truth. Astonished at the doctrine of the Lord, he believed and embraced the gospel.
Power for Gospel Workers
Gospel workers can receive power from above by being filled with the Holy Spirit to withstand satanic influence when evil powers work to oppose the gospel and turn seekers from the faith. As Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit and confronted Elymas the sorcerer with courage as he tried to turn Sergius Paulus from the faith, so the Holy Spirit gives power to withstand Satan's influence and to rebuke the deceiver. That same filling empowers God's workers to stand against false theories and a low standard.
Being filled with the Holy Spirit refines the receiver and purifies him from dross. It enlightens, sanctifies, and purifies, revealing the glory of God in a decided change and conversion.
This applies to workers in Washington, in printing establishments, in sanitariums, and in every line of work throughout America. It calls for earnest seeking of the Lord and humbling of the heart before God. It requires a higher moral standard to be upheld and maintained, with cleansing and reformation. Then the warning message will go forth as a lamp that burns.
Saul, who is also called Paul, being filled with the Holy Spirit fixed his gaze on Elymas the sorcerer as he sought to turn Sergius Paulus the deputy away from the faith. With courage and authority from above Paul rebuked the deceiver as full of subtlety and mischief, a child of the devil and enemy of all righteousness who perverts the right ways of the Lord. Because Elymas had shut his eyes to the light of the gospel, the hand of the Lord shut his natural eyes in temporary blindness. The judgment was a call to repentance and a proof that the apostles worked by God and not by trickery, and astonished at it the deputy believed and embraced the gospel. The same filling of the Spirit still gives gospel workers power to withstand satanic influence and false theories, refining and purifying them for a higher moral standard and a burning witness.
Names, Gaze, and Setting
Saul is the same person who is also called Paul. Filled with the Holy Spirit, he fixed his gaze upon Elymas. That fixing of the eyes was a Spirit-empowered confrontation as he prepared to rebuke the wicked deceiver.
The setting was Elymas the sorcerer seeking to turn Sergius Paulus, the deputy, away from the faith. In doing so Elymas was opposing the gospel and the truth. Evil powers were working through him to turn the deputy from the faith, and to withstand that satanic influence required power from above.
Elymas welcomed satanic influence for the sake of obtaining supernatural power. He possessed a spirit of divination. Unlike most who are possessed by devils, he was not in a condition of great suffering and had no conflict with the demons.
Spirit-Empowered Rebuke and Outcome
Filled with the Holy Spirit, Paul confronted the deceiver with courage and authority, receiving power from above to withstand satanic influence, oppose deception, and rebuke him in the Spirit's power for the sake of the gospel. His fixed gaze was a Spirit-empowered confrontation as he prepared to rebuke Elymas for opposing the truth and trying to turn Sergius Paulus from the faith. He denounced Elymas as full of all subtlety and mischief, a child of the devil and enemy of all righteousness who perverts the right ways of the Lord.
He declared that the hand of the Lord would be upon Elymas to make him blind for a time, and the temporary blindness immediately fell upon him. Because Elymas had shut his eyes to the evidence and light of the gospel, his natural eyes were shut for a season. The blindness was a warning to him to repent and seek God's pardon. It also showed those watching that the apostles' miracles come from God and not from trickery or sleight of hand.
The event helped convince the deputy of the truth. Astonished at the doctrine of the Lord, he believed and embraced the gospel.
Power for Gospel Workers
Gospel workers can receive power from above by being filled with the Holy Spirit to withstand satanic influence when evil powers work to oppose the gospel and turn seekers from the faith. As Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit and confronted Elymas the sorcerer with courage as he tried to turn Sergius Paulus from the faith, so the Holy Spirit gives power to withstand Satan's influence and to rebuke the deceiver. That same filling empowers God's workers to stand against false theories and a low standard.
Being filled with the Holy Spirit refines the receiver and purifies him from dross. It enlightens, sanctifies, and purifies, revealing the glory of God in a decided change and conversion.
This applies to workers in Washington, in printing establishments, in sanitariums, and in every line of work throughout America. It calls for earnest seeking of the Lord and humbling of the heart before God. It requires a higher moral standard to be upheld and maintained, with cleansing and reformation. Then the warning message will go forth as a lamp that burns.