Acts 13 9

Acts 13:9

ESV: But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him

KJV: Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him.

NIV: Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said,

NKJV: Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him

NLT: Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in the eye.

Meaning

Acts 13:9 marks a significant moment in the ministry of Saul, introducing his Roman name, Paul, and emphasizing his empowerment by the Holy Spirit. This verse initiates a direct spiritual confrontation between Paul and Elymas, the Jewish sorcerer, signaling a pivotal shift in the missionary journey towards the Gentile world. Paul's "intense gaze" signifies a divine discernment and an impending act of God's judgment and power through him against the forces of darkness hindering the Gospel.

Cross References

Context

Acts chapter 13 inaugurates the first major missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas, commissioned by the Holy Spirit through the church in Antioch. After sailing to Cyprus, they began proclaiming the Word of God in synagogues. The narrative moves to Paphos, the capital of Cyprus, where they meet Sergius Paulus, an intelligent Roman proconsul who sought to hear the Christian message. However, Bar-Jesus, a Jewish sorcerer also known as Elymas, actively opposed them, attempting to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Verse 9 details the direct, Spirit-empowered confrontation where Saul (now primarily referred to as Paul) intervenes decisively, marking a significant turn in the events and establishing his authority as an apostle.

Word analysis

• Then (Τότε - Tote): This temporal adverb indicates a definite moment or turning point in the narrative, linking previous events (Elymas' opposition) to the immediate action of Paul's confrontation.
• Saul (Σαῦλος - Saulos): Paul's Hebrew name, identifying him within his Jewish heritage. Its usage here provides continuity before his name becomes predominantly "Paul," linking his past with his present apostolic work.
• who also is called (ὁ καὶ καλούμενος - ho kai kaloumenos): The phrase suggests "Paul" was an existing or additional name, not a sudden change, but rather a deliberate adoption or prominence of his Roman cognomen for his Gentile mission. The present passive participle ("being called") indicates this designation was already known or established.
• Paul (Παῦλος - Paulos): His Roman (Latin) name, meaning "small" or "humble." This name is primarily used after this point in Acts, underscoring his identity as the Apostle to the Gentiles (Rom 11:13) and potentially fostering broader appeal among the Roman populace. It symbolically signifies a shift in his focus and an identification with the world he was called to reach.
• filled with (πλησθεὶς - plēstheis): An aorist passive participle meaning "having been filled." It denotes a specific, divine, and purposeful endowment of the Holy Spirit for the immediate task at hand, granting spiritual authority, discernment, and power. It's not a general state but an action with specific results.
• the Holy Spirit (Πνεύματος Ἁγίου - Pneumatos Hagiou): The Third Person of the Trinity, empowering Paul for the imminent spiritual warfare and miracle. This filling confirms the divine source of Paul's actions and words.
• looked intently at (ἀτενίσας εἰς - atenisas eis): An aorist active participle of "to gaze fixedly" or "stare." This powerful verb signifies a piercing, discerning gaze, often used in Acts before significant divine action, confrontation, or revelation (Acts 3:4, 6:15). It communicates spiritual authority and insight beyond mere observation, perhaps seeing the spiritual battle behind the physical.
• him (αὐτόν - auton): Refers specifically to Elymas (Bar-Jesus), the sorcerer, the object of Paul's Holy Spirit-empowered, discerning, and confronting gaze.
• Saul, who also is called Paul: This phrasing is crucial, not suggesting a conversion name change like Jacob to Israel, but rather a strategic highlighting or elevation of his Roman name. This public emphasis aligns perfectly with his unfolding mission to the Gentile world. It effectively bridges his Jewish past (Saul) with his apostolic future (Paul).
• filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him: This phrase portrays the divine authority and immediate readiness for spiritual combat. The Holy Spirit's filling granted Paul not only the power to speak God's word but also the spiritual insight and courage to directly confront demonic opposition, a demonstration that the Gospel is superior to any counterfeit power.

Commentary

Acts 13:9 is a profoundly declarative moment. It is the verse where Saul, now designated primarily by his Roman name, Paul, is shown as a vessel fully empowered by the Holy Spirit. This divine filling immediately precedes his authoritative confrontation with Elymas, the sorcerer who was attempting to divert the proconsul from the truth. Paul's "intense gaze" is not just a look; it is a manifestation of Spirit-given discernment, penetrating to the spiritual essence of the opposition. This decisive encounter sets a precedent for Paul's ministry—where the power of the Gospel will directly contend with and overcome spiritual darkness and false teachings, laying bare their impotence before God's truth. It underscores that God's power is the true authority in spiritual warfare and ministry.

Bonus section

• The deliberate shift in the narrative from "Saul" to "Paul" at this specific juncture underscores the trajectory of early Christianity from its Jewish roots into the wider Roman/Gentile world, with Paul as its chief emissary. It marks a narrative turning point aligning the character's name with his primary mission.
• The phrase "filled with the Holy Spirit" consistently signals divine enablement for powerful speech or action in the book of Acts. It is not an emotional state but an anointing for ministry, often involving direct confrontation with spiritual or earthly opposition.
• Elymas, being a Jewish sorcerer, represents a unique type of opposition – not just pagan unbelief, but an internal spiritual deception operating under the guise of Jewish faith, highlighting the spiritual blindness that could exist even within religious circles that rejected Christ.
• The confrontation in Paphos sets the tone for the demonstrations of power often seen in Paul's subsequent missions. The visual intensity of Paul's gaze (ἀτενίσας) prepares the reader for the significant spiritual breakthrough that follows, where the visible defeat of the sorcerer confirms the truth and power of the Christian message to the proconsul.

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