Book of Common Prayer

Mission and magic

13 In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Symeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen from the court of Herod the Tetrarch, and Saul. ² As they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the holy spirit said, “Set apart Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ³ So they fasted and prayed; and then they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

⁴ So off they went, sent out by the holy spirit, and arrived at Seleucia. From there they set sail to Cyprus, ⁵ and when they arrived in Salamis they announced God’s word in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their assistant. ⁶ They went through the whole of the island, all the way to Paphos. There they found a magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. ⁷ He was with the governor, Sergius Paulus, who was an intelligent man. He called Barnabas and Saul and asked to hear the word of God. ⁸ The magician Elymas (that is the translation of his name) was opposing them, and doing his best to turn the governor away from the faith. ⁹ But Saul, also named Paul, looked intently at him, filled with the holy spirit.

¹⁰ “You’re full of trickery and every kind of villainy!” he said. “You’re a son of the devil! You’re an enemy of everything that’s right! When are you going to stop twisting the paths that God has made straight? ¹¹ Now see here: the Lord’s hand will be upon you, and you will be blind for a while; you won’t even be able to see the sun!”

At once mist and darkness fell on him, and he went about looking for someone to lead him by the hand. ¹² When the governor saw what had happened, he believed, since he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

⁴¹ “Master,” said Peter, “are you telling this parable for us, or for everyone?”

⁴² “Who then is the faithful and wise servant,” said Jesus, “whom the master will set over all his household, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? ⁴³ A blessing on the servant that his master, when he comes, finds doing just that! ⁴⁴ I’m telling you truly, he will install him as manager over all his possessions. ⁴⁵ But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is taking his time over coming back,’ and begins to beat the slaves and slave-girls, to eat and drink and get drunk— ⁴⁶ then the master of that servant will come on a day he doesn’t expect him to, and at a moment he didn’t imagine, and he will cut him in two. He will give him the same place as the unbelievers.

⁴⁷ “If a servant knew what the master wanted, and didn’t get ready, or do what was wanted, the punishment will be a severe beating. ⁴⁸ If the servant didn’t know, and did what deserved a beating, it will be a light beating. Much will be required from one who is given much; if someone is entrusted with much, even more will be expected in return.”