“The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.”

Following the leading of the Holy Spirit, the first port of call for these two unseasoned missionaries, Barnabas and Saul.  was the island of Cyprus. 

First detail…they went to the synagogues. You have to admire their courage. Despite their calling to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, Saul and Barnabas went first to the Jews. It had to be because the good news was always for God‘s own covenant people first and then the Gentiles. It seems there was no opposition to the gospel from these Jews. Perhaps they were more open-minded than their counterparts in Israel. 

Second detail…John Mark! Obviously, Barnabas included him in the party. However, like Lot in Abraham’s story, John Mark eventually became a liability according to Paul, and caused a rift in the partnership. 

Next detail…Elymas, the sorcerer. 

“They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. 

Why Paphos?

“Paphos is a historic coastal city in southwestern Cyprus, renowned as the mythical birthplace of Aphrodite and a major UNESCO World Heritage site. Historically, it was a vital religious center for the goddess’s cult and served as the island’s capital during Roman times. It boasts ancient ruins, including mosaics and the Tombs of the Kings.” (Source: Google AI)

None other than a henchman of the devil himself…and his name? Bar-Jesus! What a deception! The son of Jesus? Nothing could have been farther from the truth. 

In the hotbed of pagan worship in the capital city of Cyprus, this imposter was in league with the devil and claiming, according to his name, to be a son of Jesus, using Satan’s power to gain attention and influence. Quite comfortable in this environment, he was both a sorcerer and a false prophet. 

“The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.”

Elymas was not comfortable in the present of Jesus. He clashed with his superior, the proconsul. by trying to oppose them and block the missionaries from speaking to his boss. He wanted none of this Jesus-thing!

“Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭13‬:‭4‬-‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Paul quickly assessed the situation. This was war! The battle lines were drawn. Unfortunately for Elymas, he was up against more than he bargained for…! Paul, on the learning curve, in the power of the Spirit, spoke the word that changed everything. Here was a demonstration of the power of the kingdom he and Barnabas represented…the power of the spoken word. 

Elymas became blind, exactly as Paul had declared. His evil heart exposed, Paul spoke darkness over him…the darkness of unseeing eyes that mirrored the darkness in his soul. 

Well! That did it! The proconsul was convinced…not because of the judgment on Elymas but because of the truth about Jesus. 

“When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭13‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Luke did not divulge the content of Paul’s message to the Roman officer but, together with God’s power through the spoken word, he was convinced and believed the truth. 

What a battle! What a victory!  

Paul was learning to use the power of the Word of God and the kingdom of which he and Barnabas were representatives. Their equip equipment was infallible. 

So, another seed planted…another soul won…another branch of God’s kingdom established on an island in the Mediterranean  sea! The flame was burning in the Roman Empire and would soon spread, against all odds, throughout the known world. The power of the gospel is unstoppable!

To be continued