Acts 13:10

“And said, O full of all subtlety and all mischief, etc.] Which may have regard both to his general character as a sorcerer, and a false prophet; in acting up to which he used much deceit and cunning among the people, and did much mischief to them; to which there was a promptness and readiness in him, as the word used signifies; and also to the sophistry he used, and the mischief he endeavoured to do in seeking to turn the deputy from the faith. The minds of carnal men are vain and empty, and destitute of all that is good, and full of all that is evil: their character is, filled with all unrighteousness, ( <450129>Romans 1:29). They have many of them a great deal of wit, but it is wicked wit,…”

“full of all subtlety--referring to his magic arts. and all malice--The word signifies "readiness for anything," knavish dexterity. thou child of the devil . . . enemy of all righteousness--These were not words of passion, for immediately before uttering them, it is said he was "filled with the Holy Ghost" [CHRYSOSTOM]. wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord--referring to his having to that hour made a trade of leading his fellow creatures astray.”

“O full of all subtilty and all mischief - The word “subtilty” denotes “deceit and fraud,” and implies that he was practicing an imposition, and that he knew it. The word rendered “mischief” ῥᾳδιουργίας radiourgias denotes properly “facility of acting,” and then “sleight of hand; sly;, cunning arts, by which one imposes on another, and deceives him with a fraudulent intention.” It is not used elsewhere in the New Testament. The art of Elymas consisted probably in sleight of hand, legerdemain, or trick, aided by skill in the abstruse sciences, by which the ignorant might be easily imposed on. See the notes on Acts 8:9. Child of the devil - Under his influence; practicing his arts; promoting…”

“O full of all guile - As a false prophet, and all mischief - As a magician. Thou son of the devil - A title well suited to a magician; and one who not only was himself unrighteous, but laboured to keep others from all goodness. Wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? - Even now thou hast heard the truth of the Gospel. Acts 13:11”

“13:10-11 Paul, who became the chief spokesman, rebuked the sorcerer’s fraudulent claims, exposed his deceit, and pronounced divine judgment (cp. 8:20-24). The sorcerer was instantly struck blind, a condition that lasted for some time, giving a strong demonstration of the truthfulness and superiority of the apostolic message over the bogus claims of the sorcerer.”

“O full: Act 8:20-23; Ecc 9:3; Mat 3:7, Mat 15:19, Mat 23:25-33; Luk 11:39; Co2 11:3 thou child: Gen 3:15; Mat 13:38; Joh 8:44; Jo1 3:8 wilt: Act 20:30; Jer 23:36; Mat 23:13; Luk 11:52; Gal 1:7 the right: Act 18:25, Act 18:26; Gen 18:19; Ch2 17:6; Hos 14:9; Joh 1:23 Acts 13:11”