Acts 13:1-12
Barnabas and Saul Sent Off
1In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
On Cyprus
4The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.
6They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, 7who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. 8But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. 9Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, 10"You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? 11Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun."
Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.
There were prophets and teachers in he Church of Antioch...The teachers and prophets Luke is writing about are Simeon, Lucius, Manaen, Barnabas, and Saul (also know as Paul)...These prophets worshipped the LORD and fasted...The Holy Spirit told the five that Saul and Barnabas should go on a mission...So after these teachers fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off on their first missionary work...This would be an important start of carrying Jesus' name to the Gentiles...The two of them followed the Holy Spirit to Seleucia and then on to Cyprus...Then they went to Salamis, a city in Cyprus...John Mark was with them as an assistant and helper....Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark traveled the whole island of Cyprus...
During their travels a sorcerer named Elymas opposed them...Elymas tried to keep them from the proconsul there...Then Paul filled with the Holy Spirit, told the sorcerer, Elymas, that he was filled with the devil...Paul blinded him for a period of time...Immediately mist came over the sorcerer's eyes and he could not see...The proconsul was amazed at the teaching about the LORD..
The teachers and prophets were gathered in the LORD's name...When two or more are gathered in His name there is love and a Spiritual power...The group felt the Holy Spirit, and accepted God's will...Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark would be sent out on a mission of God's will...And even though God was with them and they were carried along by the Holy Spirit they would face hardships and opposition...But Paul and Barnabas were prepared for what troubles they might face and continue the mission of spreading the good news of our LORD Jesus Christ...
This was St. Paul's first missionary journey to teach the Gentile the gospel of Jesus...This would prepare him for his other missions and journeys to the Gentiles...Paul knew he would have opposition and be persecuted even though he was doing God's will and God's work...St. Paul would suffer...Paul knew this suffering was to be...The early church and the early apostles would face intense persecution...
If people and this world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first...If you belonged to this world and taught about things of this world, it would love you as its own...As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of this world...That is why the world hates you (John 15:18-19)...And the LORD said to Ananias, who feared Paul and did not want to go to him (Paul had reached Damascus, after Jesus touched him), "Go! This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name to the Gentiles, their kings, and the before the people of Israel...I will show him how much he must suffer for My name" (Acts 9:15-16)...