Bible Strands
Acts 13:9
Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked directly at Elymas
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul (formerly Saul) confronts the sorcerer Elymas at the precise moment Elymas opposes the missionaries and attempts to divert the proconsul from the faith. Paul turns his direct gaze toward Elymas as the spiritual opposition becomes explicit.
The words — The Greek participle πλησθεὶς (plēstheis) literally means "having been filled," describing a completed action that modifies Paul's subject. This grammatical marker places the Spirit's empowerment immediately before Paul's physical and verbal confrontation.
The thread — The text links this moment to Acts 2:4 and Acts 4:8, where believers are similarly filled with the Holy Spirit to speak boldly. It also parallels Micah 3:8, where the prophet declares he is filled with power by the Spirit of the Lord to declare justice.
Why it lands — The passage records that Paul looked directly at Elymas after being filled with the Spirit, establishing a sequence where divine empowerment precedes direct confrontation. A reader must apply this pattern by recognizing that spiritual authority against deception requires reliance on the Spirit rather than rhetorical skill.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,
Cross-references
- Micah 3:8 As 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 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people!
- Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
- Acts 7:55 But 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 3:5 Jesus 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 4:31 After 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 20:17 But 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’?