When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they met a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet, named Bar-Jesus. He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear the Word Of God. Acts 13:6-7

They sail to Cyprus. Led by the Holy Spirit, Barnabas and Saul and John-Mark first proclaim the Word in a synagogues, in Salamis on the Eastern side of the island of Cyprus island and then going to the Western side, they are summoned to Paphos. In Paphos the intelligent Sergius Paulus the Roman governor of Cyprus, wants to visit with them about his faith.

Sergius Paulus wants to hear the Word of God. Now one of Sergius’ advisors is Elymas or Bar-Jesus, a magician who is deceitful, controlling, and rude. Elymas tries to turn the proconsul Sergius Paulus away from faith in Christ. And Saul, now called Paul (Roman name for Saul, Gentile preacher v.9) filled with the Holy Spirit says to Elymas:

“You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? And now listen– the hand of the Lord is against you, and you will be blind for a while, unable to see the sun.”

Elymas is blind, groping, led out by someone who pitied him. The proconsul Sergius Paulus listens, sees, believes in Christ, and is astonished at the teaching about the Lord. For hearing the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and seeing the Power of Christ in action, the blinding of evil, convinces and convicts Sergius Paulus. What a Savior we serve!