Note 1 at Ac 13:6: Paphos was opposite Salamis on the southwest coast of Cyprus, with a distance of approximately ninety miles between them. This city was the capital of the Roman province of Cyprus and the residence of Sergius Paulus, the Roman proconsul.

Note 2 at Ac 13:6: This Barjesus (meaning "son of Jesus (or Joshua)" [Strong's Concordance]), also called Elymas (Ac 13:8), was a sorcerer. This passage does not expound on exactly how he used sorcery, but it can be assumed that his practices were similar to those of Simon (Ac 8:9-24).

Special mention is made of Elymas being with Sergius Paulus; this would imply that he used his sorcery to influence the Roman proconsul. This may explain why he tried to withstand Barnabas and Saul and turn Sergius Paulus away from the faith. He didn't want to lose his influential follower.