2.
But the word of the Lord grew and increased. Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem having completed their mission, taking with them John who was surnamed Mark. 13:1. Now in Antioch amongst existing church prophets and teachers there were both Barnabas and Simeon who was called Niger. There were Lucius the Cyrenian and Manaen who was a foster brother of Herod the tetrarch and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit spoke to them. Separate off for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Then having fasted and having prayed and laid hands on them they (leaders of the church in Antioch) dismissed them.
They (Barnabas and Saul) therefore were sent out by the Holy Spirit and went down to Seleucia and from there sailed away to Cyprus. Being in Salamis they announced the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also
had John (Mark) as
|
an attendant. Passing through all the island until Paphos they found a certain man who was a magician and a false prophet. He was Jewish and was named Barjesus. He was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called Barnabas and Saul to him in order to hear the word of God. But Elymas (which was the translated name of the sorcerer) was opposed to them. He sought to divert the proconsul from the faith. But Saul (also called Paul) was filled with the Holy Spirit and gazed at him and said "You are full of deceit and fraud and a son of the devil the enemy of all righteousness. Will you not stop perverting the righteous ways of the Lord Now behold the hand of the Lord is on you. You will be blind, not seeing the sun until a certain time." And at once a mist and darkness fell on him (the sorcerer) and he sought out people to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul on seeing what had occurred believed. He was astounded at the teaching of the Lord.
12:24-13:12 |
