John Calvin Commentary Acts 13:6

"And when they had gone through the whole island unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus;" — Acts 13:6 (ASV)

When they had passed over. We can assume that their passage was not entirely without fruit; and, surely, Luke would never have passed over in silence a general rejection. It was sufficient for him to say that they were not idle in their teaching on their journey, since he hastens to a notable account, which he will present next.

Since Salamis, situated on the east coast, faced Syria, it was necessary for Paul and Barnabas to pass through the middle of the island to the other side, to reach Paphos. For Paphos was a city situated on the sea-coast to the south.

Furthermore, although the entire island was dedicated to Venus, Paphos was the principal seat of the idol. For this reason, God's goodness is all the more wonderful, in that He allowed the light of His gospel to penetrate such a filthy and cruel den. For from this we can understand what kind of integrity, chastity, honesty, and temperance prevailed in that city, since its religion granted the inhabitants freedom to commit all kinds of shameful and heinous offenses.

They found a certain fake prophet. Since religion was thoroughly corrupt among the Jews, it is no wonder that they fell away into many wicked superstitions. And since they had until then professed that they worshipped a distinct god of their own, this was a plausible pretext for deception, as they could use the name of the unknown God as they pleased. But it is a wonder how Elymas, with his trickery, could deceive such a serious and wise man. For we know that the Jews were at that time hated by all the world, and especially by the Romans, and this hatred was coupled with extreme contempt for them.

Now Luke, not without reason, expressly commends Sergius's wisdom, lest anyone think that his foolishness and frivolity made him susceptible to the sorcerer's deceptions. His intention was, indeed, to show as in a clear mirror how frivolous and vain human wisdom is, which cannot guard against such blatant cunning of Satan.

And surely, where God's truth is not present, the wiser people seem to be, the more deplorably foolish they are. We see what vile monsters of superstition reigned among the most intelligent Gentiles, and those who were equipped with all kinds of learning. Therefore, there is neither judgment nor wisdom, except from the Spirit of God. And this is God's just vengeance on all idolaters: that being delivered over to a reprobate sense, they can discern nothing (Romans 1:28). Although it may be that Sergius Paulus, being weary of superstitions, was then beginning to desire a purer worship of God when he encountered that sorcerer. If we accept this, it was surely a mysterious judgment of God that He allowed a man with godly inclinations to fall headlong into the deadly snares of Satan. But God sometimes tests His elect in such a way that He causes them to wander down many paths before they are guided into the right way.