Lexical Summary achlus: Mist, dimness, obscurity Original Word: ἀχλύς Strong's Exhaustive Concordance mist. Of uncertain derivation; dimness of sight, i.e. (probably) a cataract -- mist. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition a mist NASB Translation mist (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 887: ἀχλύςἀχλύς, ἀχλυος, ἡ, a mist, dimness (Latincaligo), especially over the eyes (a poetic word, often in Homer; then in Hesiod, Aeschylus; in prose writings from (Aristotle, meteor. 2, 8, p. 367{b}, 17 etc. and) Polybius 34, 11, 15 on; (of a cataract, Dioscor. Cf. Trench, § c.)): Acts 13:11. (Josephus, Antiquities 9, 4, 3 τάς τῶν πολεμίων ὄψεις ἀμαυρωσαι τόν Θεόν παρεκάλει ἀχλυν αὐταῖς ἐπιβαλοντα. Metaphorically, of the mind, Clement of Rome, 2 Cor. 1, 6 [ET] ἀχλυος γέμειν.) Topical Lexicon Central IdeaThe term translated “mist” (ἀχλύς; also ὁμίχλαι when plural imagery is employed) speaks of a transient, veiling vapor that obscures sight. In Scripture it is never neutral. It is consistently connected with judgment, spiritual blindness, and the tragic contrast between deceptive darkness and the clarity that comes from God’s revealed light. Occurrences in the New Testament • Acts 13:11 – Upon the sorcerer Elymas, “mist and darkness” descend as an immediate, tangible sign of divine judgment that renders him unable to see. • 2 Peter 2:17 – False teachers are likened to “mists driven by a storm,” promising refreshment but proving empty and dangerous; “blackest darkness is reserved for them.” Though the vocabulary differs slightly, the imagery is unified: an obscuring vapor sent (or allowed) by God that exposes and punishes spiritual rebellion. Old Testament Background Hebrew narrative lays a foundation for the symbolism. In Genesis 19:11 the men of Sodom are struck with blindness, groping for the doorway—an echo of Elymas’ plight. Isaiah 29:9-10 warns that the Lord can pour out “a spirit of deep sleep” so that eyes are closed. Joel 2:2 describes “a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness.” Each passage prepares the reader to understand New Testament “mist” as an instrument or picture of divine response to hard-heartedness. Mist as a Sign of Divine Judgment In Acts 13, mist falls the moment Paul pronounces God’s verdict. It is not random natural phenomena but a direct intervention. The judgment is temporary (“for a time”), reflecting God’s mercy even in discipline, and serves two purposes: (1) it protects the gospel from opposition, and (2) it testifies to the assembled governor and others that the apostles speak with heavenly authority. Mist as a Portrait of False Ministry 2 Peter widens the motif. False teachers are “springs without water,” offering thirst-quenching promises they cannot fulfill, and “mists driven by a storm,” unstable, aimless, and soon swallowed by the very darkness they create. The image rebukes every ministry that clouds the light of Christ with human schemes. Contrast With the Light of Christ Where “mist” blinds, Jesus proclaims, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). Paul’s mission is defined in similar contrast: “to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light” (Acts 26:18). The gospel scatters every spiritual vapor that hides the face of God from humankind. Historical Interpretation Early Christian writers saw Elymas as a living parable of Israel’s self-inflicted blindness (Romans 11:7-10) and a solemn warning to anyone who twists Scripture. Later commentators linked 2 Peter 2:17 to apostasy in every era, viewing the “mists” as theological novelties that obscure the clear teaching once for all delivered to the saints. Practical Ministry Application 1. Discernment – Teachers must handle the Word so plainly that no “mist” of ambiguity remains. Related Biblical Themes • Blindness and sight: Exodus 10:21-23; John 9:39-41. Summary Strong’s Greek 887 and its cognate imagery depict a God-sent veil that exposes rebellion, contrasts with gospel light, and warns against hollow, deceptive ministry. Where the mist descends, sight is lost; where Christ shines, every cloud is scattered. Forms and Transliterations αχλυς αχλύς ἀχλὺς αχούχ ομιχλαι ὁμίχλαι achlus achlys achlỳs homichlai homíchlai omichlaiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Acts 13:11 N-NFSGRK: ἐπ' αὐτὸν ἀχλὺς καὶ σκότος NAS: And immediately a mist and a darkness KJV: on him a mist and a darkness; INT: upon him a mist and darkness 2 Peter 2:17 N-NFP Strong's Greek 887 |