Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked directly at Elymas
Parallel translations
- WEB But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him,
- KJV Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,
- ESV But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him
- NKJV Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him
- NASB But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, stared at him,
- NLT Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in the eye.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Saul, now also called Paul, is filled with the Holy Spirit and fixes his gaze on Elymas. He acts in the Spirit's power, not his own.
Overview
This is the point where Luke begins consistently to use the name Paul, fitting the apostle's growing ministry in the Greco-Roman world. The filling of the Spirit marks the source of his authority for what follows. Paul confronts evil not by personal force but as a Spirit-empowered servant of Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Mic 3:8As for me, however, I am filled with power by the Spirit of the LORD, with justice and courage, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.
- Acts 4:8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people!
- Acts 2:4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
- Acts 7:55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
- Mark 3:5Jesus looked around at them with anger and sorrow at their hardness of heart. Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored.
- Acts 4:31After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
- Luke 20:17But Jesus looked directly at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 13:9 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.