Which sorcerer was struck blind by Paul on Cyprus?

Which sorcerer was struck blind by Paul on Cyprus? Elymas was the sorcerer whom Paul temporarily struck blind on Cyprus. Acts 13 identifies him as a Jewish false prophet and magus, also called Bar-Jesus, who opposed Paul and Barnabas at Paphos.

The pair were preaching before Sergius Paulus, the Roman proconsul of Cyprus. Elymas tried to turn the official away from the Christian message. Paul, described as filled with the Holy Spirit, rebuked him and announced that he would become blind for a time. A mist and darkness then fell over Elymas, who had to be led by the hand.

The episode has a prominent place in Acts because Sergius Paulus was impressed by both the miracle and the teaching about the Lord. From this point in the narrative, Acts generally uses Paul rather than Saul, marking a transition in the account of his mission.

Elymas is often confused with Simon Magus, another magician in Acts. Simon appears earlier in Samaria and is confronted by Peter, whereas Elymas appears in Cyprus and is confronted by Paul. The name Elymas may be a title or translation associated with “magus”; Bar-Jesus is his other recorded name.