Barnabas and Saul sent to minister
1 The church at Antioch included prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon (nicknamed Niger), Lucius from Cyrene, Manaen (a childhood friend of Herod the ruler), and Saul.
2
As they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Appoint Barnabas and Saul to the work I have called them to undertake."
3
After they fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on these two and sent them off.
Serving in Cyprus
4 After the Holy Spirit sent them on their way, they went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus.
5
In Salamis they proclaimed God's word in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their assistant.
6
They traveled throughout the island until they arrived at Paphos. There they found a certain man named Bar-Jesus, a Jew who was a false prophet and practiced sorcery.
7
He kept company with the governor of that province, an intelligent man named Sergius Paulus. The governor sent for Barnabas and Saul since he wanted to hear God's word.
8
But Elymas the sorcerer (for that's what people understood his name meant) opposed them, trying to steer the governor away from the faith.
9
Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Saul, also known as Paul, glared at Bar-Jesus and
10
said, "You are a deceiver and trickster! You devil! You attack anything that is right! Will you never stop twisting the straight ways of the Lord into crooked paths?