Sergius Paulus

On the island of Cyprus, a Roman governor called Sergius Paulus, “a prudent man,” sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. A sorcerer named Elymas tried to turn him away from the faith. Saul, who was also called Paul, looked at the man and spoke sharply, and Elymas was struck blind for a season, groping for someone to lead him by the hand. The governor saw it, and “believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.” The whole scene is in Acts 13.

6 verses

Acts

Acts 13:7

Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

Acts 13:8

But Elymas the sorcerer(for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

Acts 13:9

Then Saul,(who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,

Acts 13:10

And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

Acts 13:11

And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

Acts 13:12

Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

From Easton's Bible Dictionary

Matthew George Easton, 1897

A “prudent man” (R.V., “man of understanding”), the deputy (R.V., “proconsul”) of Cyprus (Acts 13:6-13). He became a convert to Christianity under Paul, who visited this island on his first mission to the heathen.

A remarkable memorial of this proconsul was recently (1887) discovered at Rome. On a boundary stone of Claudius his name is found, among others, as having been appointed (A.D. 47) one of the curators of the banks and the channel of the river Tiber. After serving his three years as proconsul at Cyprus, he returned to Rome, where he held the office referred to. As he is not saluted in Paul’s letter to the Romans, he probably died before it was written.

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From Smith's Bible Dictionary

William Smith, 1884

was the proconsul of Cyprus when the apostle Paul visited that island with Barnabas on his first missionary tour. (Acts 13:7) seq. (A.D. 44.) He is described as an intelligent man, truth-seeking, eager for information from all sources within his reach. Though at first admitting to his society Elymas the magician, he afterward, on becoming acquainted with the claims of the gospel, yielded his mind to the evidence of its truth.