Discerning Sorcerers and False Prophets in the Congregation:
A Biblical Study from Acts of the Apostles 13
By Pastor Joel – Open Heaven Christian Church – Fisher, Arkansas
Spiritual warfare is not a metaphor in Scripture—it is a lived reality within the life of the Church. The account of Elymas in Acts 13:4-12 (KJV) provides a clear case study of how sorcery and false prophet’s attempt to infiltrate leadership circles in order to resist the advancement of the gospel.
Many churches today have already been infiltrated by warlocks and witches practicing sorcery to disrupt and stop God’s people from advancing the gospel from being proclaimed, and their main target of attack is those who are in leadership within the church as you will learn from scripture in this blog.
This article will examine:
- The pattern of infiltration by sorcerers
- The behavioral traits of spiritual subversion
- The strategic targeting of leadership
- The apostolic discernment and response needed to stop all sorcery against the church
- Christ’s promise concerning His Church
1. The Context: Spirit-Led Mission Meets Occult Opposition
Acts 13:4-5 (KJV)
“So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.”
Paul and Barnabas were “sent forth by the Holy Ghost.” Their ministry was orderly, Spirit-directed, and focused on preaching the Word.
Acts 13:6-7 (KJV)
“And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:
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.”
At Paphos they encountered:
- A sorcerer
- A false prophet
- A religious man (“a Jew”)
- A man embedded in political leadership within the country
His names:
Bar-Jesus (meaning “Son of Joshua/Jesus” or “Son of the Savior”) was a 1st-century Jewish magician and false prophet in Paphos, Cyprus, also known as Elymas (meaning “sorcerer” or “wise man”). He opposed Paul and Barnabas, attempting to stop the proconsul Sergius Paulus from converting to Christ. Paul using his apostolic authority struck him with temporary blindness for his deception and sorcery.
- Barjesus
- Elymas (“for so is his name by interpretation, (sorcerer)” v.8)
He was attached to the Roman proconsul, Sergius Paulus, described as a prudent man who desired to hear the Word of God.
Acts 13:8 (KJV)
“But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.”
The devil had sent one of his sorcerers ahead of time because he knew that Paul was on his way to share the gospel with Sergius Paulus who was the deputy of the country. Satan knew that if one of his messengers could get to Sergius Paulus and “turn him away” from the gospel, then the entire region would become a difficult region to preach the gospel openly without opposition from government authority. This is exactly what the devil does to try and stop the gospel from being preached. This satanic tactic must be discerned by church leadership as the Apostle Paul did or Satan and his agents who practice sorcery will gain territory and block the gospel from being preached in certain regions.
Key Insight:
Sorcery positioned itself beside authority to try and stop the gospel from being proplaimed.
This is not accidental. This was pre-meditated by Satan using his “false prophets” posing themselves as ministers of God to promote hatred toward churches and Christians from bringing the true gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ to regions where the gospel needs to be preached.
2. The Behavioral Profile of Elymas the Sorcerer
Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost, discerned the spirit of sorcery operating behind the man.
Acts 13:9-10 (KJV)
“Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,
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?”
The Apostle Paul quickly identified through the gift of discernment from God who Elymus really was, “a child of the devil” who was on assignment working for the devil.
From this rebuke when Paul said to him “wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” we identify clear diagnostic traits:
A. Subtilty (Craftiness)
Not loud rebellion—but manipulative influence.
Sorcery in Scripture often operates through deception, charm, flattery, or intellectual persuasion.
B. Mischief (Active Corruption)
Not merely believing wrongly—but working to distort truth.
C. Perverting the Right Ways of the Lord
Twisting doctrine.
Altering emphasis.
Re-framing truth to weaken conviction of scriptural truth.
D. Direct Resistance to the Gospel
“seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.” (Acts 13:8 KJV)
This is critical.
The agenda was not casual skepticism—it was strategic prevention of belief in Jesus Christ.
3. Why Sorcery Targets Leadership
Elymas was attached to Sergius Paulus, not random members.
Why?
Because leadership influence multiplies outcomes.
If the proconsul (Sergius Paulus) believed the gospel message from Paul the Apostle:
- The gospel would gain “regional” legitimacy.
- Doors would open and many would come to Christ as their savior.
- The church would expand, grow, and new churches would be planted throughout the region.
If the proconsul were turned away:
- The mission could stall.
- Access to influence would close.
- No churches could be planted in that region because of fear of opposition and/or percecution.
Strategic Pattern:
Spiritual subversion aims upward.
If leadership falls:
- Doctrine weakens.
- Morale declines.
- Congregations fragment.
- Authority structures dissolve.
The attack is often:
- Personal
- Psychological
- Doctrinal
- Relational
Rarely theatrical. Often very subtle.
4. How Believers Discern Such Influence Today
This does not authorize paranoia or witch-hunts. Scripture calls for spiritual discernment, not suspicion-driven accusation.
1 John 4:1 (KJV)
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God…”
Matthew 7:15 (KJV)
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”
Clear Indicators of a sorcerer among a congregation or Christian groups may include:
1. Persistent Opposition to Sound Doctrine
Not honest questioning—but continuous undermining.
2. Attempts to Isolate or Influence Leaders Privately
Operating in side conversations rather than open dialogue.
3. Doctrinal Mixture
Blending truth with mystical practices, secret knowledge, or extra-biblical authority claims.
4. Division Through Whispering
Subtle seeds of distrust toward shepherds (pastors and leaders).
5. Resistance to the Holy Spirit’s Work
Especially when conviction, repentance, or bold proclamation is occurring.
The issue is not personality differences.
The issue is whether someone is actively perverting the right ways of the Lord (Acts 13:10).
5. The Apostolic Response: Spirit-Filled Authority
Paul did not:
- Debate endlessly
- Compromise to maintain peace
- Ignore the threat
He was:
“filled with the Holy Ghost” (Acts 13:9 KJV)
He confronted the source directly and under the direction of the Holy Spirit spoke an irreversible “judgment of physical blindness” upon the sorcerer Elymas. Paul used his apostolic authority to “STOP” Elymus from continuing witchcraft in that region.
Acts 13:11-12 (KJV)
“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.
Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.”
The apostolic judgment fell on Elymus immediately—temporary blindness—was not vengeance. It was divine demonstration of what no one should ever do to try to stop the gospel of Jesus Christ when an appointed Apostle of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:1) is sent on a mission by God. If God is truly behind the mission, no one including witches and warlocks will be able to stop the gospel from being proclaimed!
And what was the result?
The deputy believed and was converted to Jesus Christ.
The confrontation between Elymus and Paul did not weaken the mission, it actually it actually strengthened it.
Truth exposed deception.
Authority silenced manipulation.
Light overcame darkness.
This is a clear warning to all who are practicing witchcraft against the church (body of Christ).
6. Guarding the Congregation Without Fear
Believers must:
- Stay rooted in Scripture and filled with the Holy Spirit as the Apostle Paul was.
- Test spirits among you to check and see if they are truly from God of the devil. (1 John 4:1).
- Protect leadership of the their church in spiritual warfare prayers. (Romans 13:1)
- Refuse gossip because it may a sorcerer among you who started it to destroy your church.
- Reject secret spiritualism disguised as Christianity.
- Submit to biblical accountability structures that God set in the church. (Ephesians 4:11-16)
Discernment flows from maturity, not suspicion.
The goal is not to identify witches—it is to protect the purity of the gospel and the flock of God from false prophets and false teachers among the flock. (2 Peter 2:1)
7. The Assurance of Christ
In Gospel of Matthew 16:18 (KJV), Jesus declares:
“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
The gates of hell as in the case of Elymus failed miserably when God struck him with blindness as a witness to Sergius Paulus the governing deputy of the country.
This promise reframes everything.
- Opposition will arise to try and stop the gospel.
- False prophets will attempt infiltration even within the church or governments.
- Sorcery will try to resist the advancement of the gospel message.
But the Church does not survive by human vigilance alone.
It stands because Christ is the one who builds it, and Christ alone must be the one leading the shepherds who are leading the flock. (Psalm 127:1)
The gates of hell are defensive structures.
The visible Church the God (body of believers ) on the earth is building of God working on the “offensive” that is advancing the invisible (Luke 17:20) Kingdom of God, and the “church” must take its stand against all evil. The Kingdom of God suffers violently against the forces of Satan and his messengers but the victory is given by the Spirit of God forcibly against all the workings of Satan. (Matthew 11:12)
Conclusion
The account of Elymas teaches us:
- Spiritual opposition often embeds itself near authority.
- False prophecy seeks influence, not visibility.
- Discernment requires the Holy Spirit.
- Bold confrontation protects many and the advancement of the gospel.
- God can use exposure of deception to strengthen the faith of others.
But above all:
The Churches that God establishes will NEVER collapse because of Satan or his sorcerers.
It does not dissolve because of infiltration or opposition.
It does not fall because of manipulation and witchcraft that has infiltrated the church.
Christ Himself is the Builder and chief cornerstone who is building His “church” (Ephesians 2:20)
And according to Matthew 16:18, the gates of hell shall never prevail against the church. Jesus never said that Satan and his agents would not try, Jesus said they will FAIL!
“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my CHURCH; and the gates of hell shall NOT prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18
If you think that the word “CHURCH” is a bad word as many think today, re-read what Jesus said. If you think that you can speak against the “CHURCH” that God has established on earth, re-read what happened to Elymus the sorcerer and learn this one thing that Jesus said “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”
If you have been coming against the church you are under divine judgement from God, or will come under the divine judgment from God and you must repent of all your evil because God views anyone who trys to stop the work of ministry as a sorcerer who is working for Satan.
The church is the body of Christ on earth working in the callings that Christ has appointed them to in ministry, and no one or nothing can stop them if they are appointed by God.
