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On Cyprus

So, being (A)sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to (B)Cyprus. And when they reached Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God in (C)the synagogues of the Jews, and they also had (D)John as their helper. And when they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a (E)magician, a Jewish (F)false prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus, who was with the (G)proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. But Elymas the (H)magician (for so his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the (I)proconsul away from (J)the faith. But Saul, who was also known as Paul, [a](K)filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on him, 10 and said, “You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you (L)son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked (M)the straight ways of the [b]Lord? 11 Now, behold, (N)the hand of the [c]Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time.” And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the hand. 12 Then the (O)proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being astonished at (P)the teaching of the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 13:9 Or having just been filled
  2. Acts 13:10 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Is 40:3
  3. Acts 13:11 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Ex 9:3

Paul’s First Missionary Journey

So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit. They went down to the seaport of Seleucia and then sailed for the island of Cyprus. There, in the town of Salamis, they went to the Jewish synagogues and preached the word of God. John Mark went with them as their assistant.

Afterward they traveled from town to town across the entire island until finally they reached Paphos, where they met a Jewish sorcerer, a false prophet named Bar-Jesus. He had attached himself to the governor, Sergius Paulus, who was an intelligent man. The governor invited Barnabas and Saul to visit him, for he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas, the sorcerer (as his name means in Greek), interfered and urged the governor to pay no attention to what Barnabas and Saul said. He was trying to keep the governor from believing.

Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in the eye. 10 Then he said, “You son of the devil, full of every sort of deceit and fraud, and enemy of all that is good! Will you never stop perverting the true ways of the Lord? 11 Watch now, for the Lord has laid his hand of punishment upon you, and you will be struck blind. You will not see the sunlight for some time.” Instantly mist and darkness came over the man’s eyes, and he began groping around begging for someone to take his hand and lead him.

12 When the governor saw what had happened, he became a believer, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.

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