Cyprus First

So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

Acts 13:4-12

The first journey for Barnabas and Saul was to the island of Cyprus. Briefly, Cyprus, an island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea near present day Israel and Turkey, had been settled by the Greeks some 2,000 years before Christ and was now a part of the Roman Empire. There was a Roman Proconsul on Cyprus and Barnabas and Saul, now called Paul, will encounter him while they are there. We learn that the Apostle John joins Paul and Barnabas in their mission work there. We also see the missionaries go throughout the whole island proclaiming the Word of God in all the synagogues there. This would become Paul’s standard method to preach the gospel because the Jews had spread throughout the Roman Empire and were well known for their religion and their houses of worship. This method also falls in line with the Great Commission by Jesus to go to the Jew first and then to the Gentiles. They go throughout the island preaching the gospel. Along the way, they meet Elymas, a magician and a false prophet of the Jews. This man was associated with the Roman Proconsul, Sergius Paulus, who was interested in the missionaries’ message. But, Elymas was against Paul and Barnabas, trying to keep them from witnessing to Sergius. Paul, miffed by Elymas’ actions, accused him of being a “son of the devil.” Then, Paul pronounced judgment upon Elymas causing him to be blind and to seek help from others around him to guide him. When Sergius saw what happened to Elymas, Sergius believed in Jesus Christ because he was astonished at all he had heard and seen. Miracles, like this, were performed to authenticate that the messenger was sent by God and his message was true. Such Godly authentications ended with the Apostles as they died. God is still in the miracle business today for He answers the prayers of many a saint, bringing the miraculous to them in many forms. For the Christian today, prayer is the key to communicate to God all your wants and needs. Now, God already knows what the Christian will pray for, so, the prayer benefits the one praying. God will meet the needs of His children and He even grants their desires from time to time. Christian, keep praying!

Source: S C Ball July 1, 2023