⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,^(A) and to give his life as a ransom for many.”^(B)

³⁶ Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas^(A) (which means “son of encouragement”), ³⁷ sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.^(B)

²⁶ When he came to Jerusalem,^(A) he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. ²⁷ But Barnabas^(B) took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him,^(C) and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.^(D)

²² News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas^(A) to Antioch. ²³ When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done,^(B) he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.^{(C) 24} He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit^(D) and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.^(E)

²⁵ Then Barnabas went to Tarsus^(F) to look for Saul, ²⁶ and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples^(G) were called Christians first^(H) at Antioch.

² While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,^(A) “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work^(B) to which I have called them.”^{(C) 3} So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them^(D) and sent them off.^(E)

On Cyprus

⁴ The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit,^(F) went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.^{(G) 5} When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God^(H) in the Jewish synagogues.^(I) John^(J) was with them as their helper.

⁶ They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer^(K) and false prophet^(L) named Bar-Jesus, ⁷ who was an attendant of the proconsul,^(M) Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. ⁸ But Elymas the sorcerer^(N) (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul^(O) from the faith.^{(P) 9} Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit,^(Q) looked straight at Elymas and said, ¹⁰ “You are a child of the devil^(R) 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?^{(S) 11} Now the hand of the Lord is against you.^(T) You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.”^(U)

Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. ¹² When the proconsul^(V) saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

In Pisidian Antioch

¹³ From Paphos,^(W) Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia,^(X) where John^(Y) left them to return to Jerusalem.