Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJohn Bengel Commentary - Acts 13:6 - 13:6
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Act 13:6. Πάφου) Paphos was a city in the west: Salamis, in the east.-μάγον ψευδοπροφήτην, a sorcerer, a false prophet) Two predicates very closely joined together.-Βαριηοὺ) Bar-Jehu was in itself a name, equally as Jehu, applicable to a man, but one very convenient to a sorcerer, a false prophet, for arrogating the claim of divinity. Jehu and Jehovah are kindred names (Collactanea); which also seems to be the reason why the Syriac version has translated Barjehu as Bar Schumo. In Barschumo and in Elymas the Syria Græca of Hermann von der Hardt, pp. 110, 114, states that there is contained the notion of blindness: but even from the fact, that Barschumo is a most frequent name among the Syrians, as is evident from the Bibliotheca, or. T. 2, c. i., of Assemann, a more pleasing notion is to be looked for in it. Ludovicus de Dieu interprets it, the son of ulcers, a physician healing ulcers; as Elymas, in his view, is חלומא, healer. Paul calls that Barjehu, Son of the devil, rebutting thus by a parody the impostor’s arrogant assumption of a name expressive of divinity.[69]
[69] Some MSS. of Vulg. read Barjehu: others, Βαριησοῦ, Barjesu: and so Memph. B (judging from the silence of the collators) CEe Theb. read Βαριησοῦς: AD corrected, Βαοιησοῦν: Lucif. 209, etc. Barjesuban.-E. and T.