Preparing for the Mission Field
1 In the local church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen, a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2
As they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work that I have called them to."
3
Then, after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off.
The Mission to Cyprus
4 Being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they came down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
5
Arriving in Salamis, they proclaimed God's message in the Jewish synagogues. They also had John as their assistant.
6
When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came across a sorcerer, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus.
7
He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and desired to hear God's message.
8
But Elymas, the sorcerer, which is how his name is translated, opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith.