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

(5) The sorcerer, who was stricken by Paul with a physical punishment (although extraordinarily), shows an example to lawful magistrates how they ought to punish those who wickedly and obstinately hinder the course of the Gospel.

(e) He points out a fault of those who run eagerly and with great desire into all types of wickedness with the least bit of prompting from the world.

People's New Testament

13:10 Child of the devil. Under his influence.

The right ways of the Lord. God's plan of salvation in Christ.

Wesley's Notes

13:10 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.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

10. 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.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

13:4-13 Satan is in a special manner busy with great men and men in power, to keep them from being religious, for their example will influence many. Saul is here for the first time called Paul, and never after Saul. Saul was his name as he was a Hebrew; Paul was his name as he was a citizen of Rome. Under the direct influence of the Holy Ghost, he gave Elymas his true character, but not in passion. A fulness of deceit and mischief together, make a man indeed a child of the devil. And those who are enemies to the doctrine of Jesus, are enemies to all righteousness; for in it all righteousness is fulfilled. The ways of the Lord Jesus are the only right ways to heaven and happiness. There are many who not only wander from these ways themselves, but set others against these ways. They commonly are so hardened, that they will not cease to do evil. The proconsul was astonished at the force of the doctrine upon his own heart and conscience, and at the power of God by which it was confirmed. The doctrine of Christ astonishes; and the more we know of it, the more reason we shall see to wonder at it. Those who put their hand to the plough and look back, are not fit for the kingdom of God. Those who are not prepared to face opposition, and to endure hardship, are not fitted for the work of the ministry.