{"id":54963,"date":"2024-09-14T12:00:12","date_gmt":"2024-09-14T09:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=54963"},"modified":"2025-09-13T14:58:23","modified_gmt":"2025-09-13T11:58:23","slug":"what-is-blindness-in-acts-1311","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2024\/09\/14\/what-is-blindness-in-acts-1311\/","title":{"rendered":"What is \u201cBlindness\u201d in Acts 13:11?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Question:<\/strong> What exactly was the “blindness” that struck Elymas the sorcerer?<\/p>\n

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Answer:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

To properly understand what happened to Elymas, let\u2019s begin with Acts 13:8-11<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Acts 13:8-11 (NIV):<\/strong>
\n“But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.
\nThen Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said,
\n‘You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?
\nNow the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.’
\nImmediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The word mist to a temporary blindness<\/strong>, often described as a mist or dark fog covering the eyes<\/em>, leading to a complete loss of vision either momentarily or for a season.<\/p>\n

This “mist” is not referring to something trivial like a shoe color (as some might jokingly think), but a supernatural judgment<\/strong> of physical blindness\u00a0 a direct consequence of opposing the truth of God.<\/p>\n

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Spiritual Implication of This Blindness:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Elymas was attempting to prevent Sergius Paulus<\/strong>, a Roman proconsul, from embracing the Christian faith. But Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, rebuked him and declared God\u2019s judgment: temporary blindness<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This act shows us several important truths:<\/p>\n

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  1. God defends His Gospel<\/strong>\u00a0Anyone who intentionally obstructs the spread of truth may face divine intervention.<\/li>\n
  2. Blindness is both physical and symbolic<\/strong>\u00a0Physical blindness here symbolizes spiritual blindness\u00a0 resisting the light of Christ.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \n

    Paul\u2019s Own Blindness<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Interestingly, Paul himself once experienced this kind of divine blindness on the road to Damascus:<\/p>\n

    Acts 9:8-9 (ESV):<\/strong>
    \n“Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Just like Elymas, Paul had a supernatural encounter with the light of Christ<\/strong>, and he was struck with temporary blindness. His blindness marked the beginning of his spiritual transformation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    Unlike Elymas, Paul responded with repentance and faith\u00a0 and thus his sight was restored, both physically and spiritually.<\/p>\n

    Bible Verses That Refer to Blindness mist<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Several other Scriptures describe physical and spiritual blindness:<\/p>\n

    Job 17:5<\/strong> “The eyes of his children will fail…”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Job 31:16<\/strong>\u00a0 Refers to withholding from the poor, possibly resulting in judgment.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Isaiah 32:3 (NIV):<\/strong> “Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen.”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Isaiah 58:10 (NIV):<\/strong> “\u2026then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Zechariah 14:6 (ESV):<\/strong> “On that day there shall be no light, cold, or frost.”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    All these verses echo the theme: when people reject God’s light, blindness\u00a0 either physical, spiritual, or both\u00a0 may follow.<\/p>\n

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    Spiritual Blindness Today<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Even today, people can be afflicted by spiritual blindness<\/strong> when they walk in disobedience to God’s Word. To reject the truth is to resist the light, and when light is rejected, darkness takes over.<\/p>\n

    Job 11:20 (NIV):<\/strong>
    \n“But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; their hope will become a dying gasp.”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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    Jesus’ Words About Spiritual Sight and Blindness<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    John 9:39 (ESV):<\/strong>
    \n“Jesus said, ‘For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.'”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Jesus\u2019 mission divides humanity into two groups:<\/p>\n