“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.

 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. 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.

 …When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord. “
Acts 13:4-8,12

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FEBRUARY 10, 2025

Having been identified by the Holy Spirit for a special work, Barnabas and Saul—also known as Paul—left the church community in Antioch. They were guided by the Spirit to travel to the island of Cyprus, the homeland of Barnabas. They disembarked from their ship at Salamis and proclaimed the gospel in the Jewish synagogues there.

Countless Jewish people had been dispersed across the Mediterranean world through the turbulent centuries of exile and occupation, creating the diaspora. Although separated geographically from the land of Israel, they maintained their Jewish culture and practices, including gathering in synagogues on the Sabbath. In fact, Paul and Barnabas were themselves part of the diaspora, being originally from Tarsus and Cyprus.

The gospel did not come into a vacuum. The Christians proclaimed Jesus to be the fulfillment of Messianic prophecies. Paul and Barnabas were at home in the synagogues, and what better place to declare that the long-awaited Messiah had arrived? Across Cyprus they spread the good news in the synagogues.

The forthright preaching of Paul and Barnabas reached the ears of the ruling proconsul. This man, noted for his intelligence, surely would have felt it prudent to be aware of any persons or influences gaining a following within his jurisdiction. But he also employed a sorcerer as an attendant. The proconsul gave Paul and Barnabas a hearing, and their proclamation of Jesus amazed him. When the sorcerer opposed them, the Spirit directed Paul to confront him publicly with blindness.

As the man groped his way around, the proconsul believed the gospel.

Questions for reflection and discussion:

  • Where has the Spirit directed you to become involved in service for the kingdom of God?
  • How should we be praying in the Spirit for words to communicate the gospel clearly?
  • When has the Spirit called you to confront evil?

 

Church Reading Plan: Genesis 43; Mark 13