919. Bariésous
Lexical Summary
Bariésous: Bar-Jesus

Original Word: Βαριησοῦς
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: Bariésous
Pronunciation: bar-ee-ay-soos'
Phonetic Spelling: (bar-ee-ay-sooce')
KJV: Barjesus
NASB: Bar-Jesus
Word Origin: [of Chaldee origin (H124 (אוֹדֶם - ruby)7 and H3091 (יְהוֹשׁוַּע יְהוֹשׁוַּע - Joshua))]

1. son of Jesus (or Joshua)
2. Bar-jesus, an Israelite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Bar-jesus

Of Chaldee origin (bar and Yhowshuwa'); son of Jesus (or Joshua); Bar-jesus, an Israelite -- Barjesus.

see HEBREW bar

see HEBREW Yhowshuwa'

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
of Aramaic origin bar and Yehoshua
Definition
"son of Joshua," Bar-Jesus, a false prophet
NASB Translation
Bar-Jesus (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 919: Βαριησοῦς

Βαριησοῦς, (בַּר son, יֵשׁוּעַ Jesus), Bar-Jesus, a certain false prophet: Acts 13:6 (where Tdf. Βαριησοῦ; see his note. Cf. Ἐλύμας).

Topical Lexicon
Identity and Historical Setting

Bar-Jesus appears once in the New Testament (Acts 13:6) as a Jewish sorcerer and self-styled prophet living in the port city of Paphos on the island of Cyprus. His native context—a Roman provincial capital steeped in Greco-Roman paganism—was a fertile ground for itinerant magicians who blended Jewish lore, astrology, and occult practices in order to gain prestige before civic officials.

Scriptural Narrative (Acts 13:6-12)

When Paul and Barnabas reached Paphos on their first missionary journey, they were summoned by the proconsul Sergius Paulus, “an intelligent man” (Acts 13:7). Bar-Jesus, also called Elymas, attempted to turn the governor “away from the faith” (Acts 13:8). Paul, “filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him” and pronounced temporary blindness upon him (Acts 13:9-11). The judgment fell immediately, and as Elymas groped for someone to lead him, the proconsul “believed, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord” (Acts 13:12).

Nature of His Opposition

1. False Prophecy: Claiming divine insight while contradicting the apostolic gospel (cf. Deuteronomy 18:20-22).
2. Sorcery: Practicing occult arts forbidden by Mosaic Law (Leviticus 19:31), in direct conflict with the works of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:20).
3. Hindering the Gospel: Actively seeking to prevent a Gentile authority from embracing the faith, foreshadowing later Jewish opposition in Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:45) and Iconium (Acts 14:2).

Apostolic Authority and Divine Judgment

Paul’s rebuke of Elymas demonstrates Spirit-empowered authority analogous to Old Testament prophetic confrontations (e.g., Elijah vs. the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18). The imposed blindness mirrors Paul’s own experience on the Damascus road (Acts 9:8-9); both instances underline the revelatory shift from darkness to light (2 Corinthians 4:6).

Gospel Advancement in the Gentile World

Elymas’s failure highlights a watershed moment: a Roman governor openly embraces the gospel, validating the mission to Gentiles (Acts 13:47). The incident sets a pattern in Acts where miraculous judgment upon opposition (Ananias and Sapphira, Herod Agrippa) propels many toward faith (Acts 5:11-14; 12:23-24).

Historical and Cultural Background

Magicians of the first century often traveled with provincial officials, offering horoscopes and amulets. Jewish practitioners enjoyed added credibility because of Scripture’s ancient reputation. Bar-Jesus likely leveraged the revered name “Jesus/Joshua” for commercial and spiritual gain, illustrating how sacred symbols can be co-opted for deception (2 Corinthians 2:17).

Theological Themes

• Spiritual Warfare: The gospel confronts occult powers, revealing the superiority of Christ (Colossians 2:15).
• Light and Blindness: Physical blindness serves as a parable of spiritual darkness (John 9:39).
• False Prophets: Continuous biblical warnings (Jeremiah 23:16; 2 Peter 2:1).
• Sovereignty of the Word: Human opposition cannot thwart divine purposes (Acts 19:20).

Lessons for Ministry Today

1. Expect Resistance: Gospel proclamation invites both interest and opposition.
2. Depend on the Spirit: Discernment and authority originate in the Spirit, not technique.
3. Maintain Integrity: Authentic witness contrasts sharply with manipulative religion.
4. Guard Against Syncretism: Blending biblical truth with occult practice compromises the message.

Comparison with Other New Testament Counterfeits

• Simon Magus (Acts 8:9-24) sought apostolic power for gain.
• The itinerant Jewish exorcists (Acts 19:13-17) attempted to use Jesus’ name without submission to His lordship.

Bar-Jesus shares their pattern: using spiritual veneer to secure social influence, yet ultimately exposed by apostolic intervention.

Doctrinal Significance

Bar-Jesus serves as a cautionary example that names, lineage, or religious façades cannot substitute for genuine faith. His account affirms:
• The exclusivity of Christ’s saving power (Acts 4:12).
• The reality of judgment upon unrepentant deception (Hebrews 10:26-31).
• The certainty that the gospel will reach its appointed hearers despite opposition (Philippians 1:12-14).

Summary

Bar-Jesus stands as the quintessential false prophet who, though bearing a name meaning “son of salvation,” chose darkness over light. His defeat by the Spirit through Paul not only vindicated the gospel before a Roman authority but also marked a decisive step in the outward march of the church from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.

Forms and Transliterations
βάρει βάρεις βάρεσιν βαρέων βάρεων βάρεως Βαριησοῦ Βαριησους Βαριησοῦς Bariesou Bariesoû Bariēsou Bariēsoû
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Englishman's Concordance
Acts 13:6 N-NMS
GRK: ᾧ ὄνομα Βαριησοῦ
NAS: whose name was Bar-Jesus,
KJV: whose name [was] Barjesus:
INT: whose name [was] Bar-Jesus

Strong's Greek 919
1 Occurrence


Βαριησοῦ — 1 Occ.

918
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