Acts 13:4-12

Expanded Bible

Barnabas and Saul in Cyprus

⁴ Barnabas and Saul, sent out by the Holy Spirit, went to the city of Seleucia [^Ca Syrian city 15 miles from Antioch]. From there they sailed to the island of Cyprus [^Can island off the coast of Syria, and Barnabas’ homeland; 4:36]. ⁵ When they came to Salamis [^Cthe main city of Cyprus], they preached the ·Good News [Gospel; ^Lword] of God in the synagogues [^Lof the Jews]. John Mark was ·with them to help [their assistant].

⁶ They went across the whole island to Paphos [^Cthe capital city of Cyprus, on the southwest coast] where they met a ·magician [sorcerer] named Bar-Jesus [^Cmeaning “son of Jesus/Joshua”]. He was a Jewish false prophet ⁷ who ·always stayed close to [^Lwas with; ^Cperhaps an assistant or advisor] Sergius Paulus, the ·governor [proconsul] and a ·smart [intelligent; discerning] man. He asked Barnabas and Saul to come to him, because he wanted to hear the ·message [^Lword] of God. ⁸ But Elymas, the magician (that is what his name means), was against them [^CElymas probably comes either from an Arabic word meaning “wise man” or an Aramaic word meaning “interpreter of dreams”—hence a “magician”]. He tried to ·stop [turn away] the ·governor [proconsul] from ·believing in Jesus [^Lthe faith]. ⁹ But Saul, who was also called Paul [^CSaul was his Jewish name; Paul his Roman name (both probably given at birth)], was filled with the Holy Spirit. He looked ·straight [intently] at Elymas ¹⁰ and said, “You son of the devil! You are an enemy of ·everything that is right [all righteousness]! You are full of ·lies [deceit] and ·evil tricks [fraud; evil schemes], ·always trying to change the Lord’s truths into lies [^Lwill you never stop making crooked/perverting the straight paths of the Lord?]. ¹¹ Now [^Llook; ^Tbehold] the [^Lhand of the] Lord will touch you, and you will be blind. For a time you will not be able to see anything—not even the light from the sun.”

Then ·everything became dark for [^Lmist and darkness fell upon] Elymas, and he walked around, trying to find someone to lead him by the hand. ¹² When the ·governor [proconsul] saw this, he believed because he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.