<p>13:8 <i>But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) opposed</i> <i>them</i>- The scene is reminiscent of Satan, the Arabic adversary of the Jews, standing before the Angel with Joshua-Jesus the priest standing on the other (Zech. 3:1,2). The impression is given of the proconsul being preached to by Paul, whilst Elymas tried to persuade him otherwise. The similarity is appropriate because &quot;Elymas&quot; appears to be an Arabic word, from the Arabic <i>elim</i>, 'the wise', and he was likely an Arab. The scene also recalls the Egyptian magicians 'opposing' Moses before Pharaoh.</p><p><i>Seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith</i>- The same Greek word is found in :10, where Elymas is accused of 'perverting' the &quot;right ways of the Lord&quot;. The word seems to specifically mean to misinterpret; we have the impression that as Paul preached to the proconsul, Elymas stood there eagerly saying 'Ah, but what they really mean by that is <i>this</i>...'. These two verses state that both the listener Sergius Paulus and the message were 'perverted'. The listener is thus identified with the message; as in the parable of the sower, the Gospel takes lodgement within a person, and they become identified with it.</p>