False Prophet Rebuked, Proconsul Accepts Gospel

The missionary journey of Saul, Barnabas, and John started from Antioch. The three went to the port city, Seleucia, and from there they sailed through the Mediterranean to Cyprus, hometown of Barnabas. When they arrived at Salamis, the capital, they began proclaiming the gospel in the synagogues.

They preached throughout the whole island of Cyprus and they came to Paphos. The proconsul of Paphos, Sergius Paulus, sent for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. The false prophet named Bar-Jesus, who was an attendant of the proconsul, feared that his position would be affected if the proconsul accepted the gospel. So he opposed Paul (Saul is also called Paul in Roman) and sought to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Paul, being filled with the Holy Spirit, rebuked Bar-Jesus and said, �𥟡 full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time�� (Acts 13: 10��11). After Paul spoke, Bar-Jesus became blind. When the proconsul saw the work of the Holy Spirit, he believed, for he was amazed at the power of Paul�䏭 teaching about the Lord (Acts 13:4��12).