72 Rick Strelan crooked the straight paths of the Lord’, and so was ‘an enemy of all righteousness’ (13,10). These two expressions are virtually synonymous. The straight paths of the Lord lead to righteousness (compare Ps 23,3); crooked paths, conversely, pervert righteousness. It is very common for scholars to think that Paul refers in this charge to Bar Jesus’ magical practices and his financial profit from such practices. So, on these charges, Barrett says, “Luke has no love for those who have illicit, and probably profitable, dealings with the supernatural. The magus is roundly cursed” (21). But I suggest his opposition to the faith (13,8) was more sophisticated and potentially more dangerous than that. Bar Jesus claims to be teaching the straight paths of the Lord, but Luke thinks he has made them crooked by his false understanding of righteousness. The strong language used by Paul, filled with biblical terms (22), suggests this man is a real threat, and that is possibly because he is was having influence inside the fold. By calling Bar Jesus a ‘son of the devil’ (uiJo;" diabovlou), Luke has Paul expose the prophet for what he really is. He is the adversary (diavbolo") who ‘comes and takes away the word from their hearts, that they might not believe and be saved’ (Luke 8,12). The links between false claimants, Satan, deceit, and unright- eousness, interestingly enough, are also found in Paul’s writings. In 2 Cor 11,13-15, he writes, For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is not strange if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. And similar links are found in 2 Thess 2,11-12, Therefore God sends upon them a strong delusion, to make them believe what is false, so that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Bar Jesus in Acts fits the same bill. He is not a ‘son of Jesus’, as he is named, but rather is on the side of the opposition. But the adversary comes to those within like a wolf in sheep’s clothing.. That is why Luke calls him ‘false’ and a magos. Even the non-Septuagintal term, (21) BARRETT, Acts, I, 617. (22) For the Septuagintal language used here, see JERVELL, Apostelgeschichte, 347.