Acts 13:7
Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
Barnabas and Saul took Mark with them to Seleucia and sailed to Cyprus, preaching in the synagogues at Salamis and then going through the isle to Paphos. At Paphos was Sergius Paulus, the Roman deputy of Cyprus, a prudent man of repute and influence. He sent for Barnabas and Saul because he desired to hear the word of God and be instructed in the gospel message. With him was Bar-Jesus called Elymas, a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet under Satan's control, who withstood the apostles as the magicians withstood Moses and Aaron, seeking by deception to turn the deputy from the faith and keep the gospel from a man of influence whom Satan specially sought to hinder from embracing Christ. When Paul rebuked Elymas and he was struck blind for a season, the deputy was convinced of the truth, believed and embraced the gospel, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
Setting and Summons
Barnabas and Saul took Mark with them, went down to Seleucia and sailed to Cyprus, preached in the synagogues of the Jews at Salamis, and then went through the isle to Paphos. Sergius Paulus was the Roman deputy of Cyprus, stationed at Paphos. He was a prudent man of repute and influence.
He called for and sent for Barnabas and Saul because he desired to hear the word of God and be instructed in the truth and learn the gospel message.
With him was Bar-Jesus, also called Elymas, a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet and servant under Satan's control. Elymas possessed the spirit of divination, and because he welcomed Satanic influence in order to obtain supernatural power he had no conflict with the demons, making him an exception to the usual condition of great suffering among those possessed with devils.
Opposition and Belief
Sergius Paulus desired to learn the truth, and because he was a man of repute and influence who could be of great service to the cause if he embraced the faith of Christ, he became a special target. Satan was on hand to thwart the purpose of God and prevent this influential man from embracing the faith of Christ. He worked through his servant Elymas to obstruct the apostles and keep the gospel from reaching a person of influence. While the deputy listened to Barnabas and Saul, Elymas opposed them and tried to turn him away from the faith, to hinder their work.
Elymas sought by false reports and specious deceptions and deceptive arguments to turn the deputy against the apostles and destroy their influence over him. He thereby greatly hindered their work. As the magicians in Pharaoh's court withstood Moses and Aaron, so Elymas withstood the apostles. Thus the fallen foe ever works in a special manner to prevent persons of influence who could be of great service to the cause from embracing the truth of God.
After Paul rebuked Elymas and he was struck blind for a season, the deputy was convinced of the truth of the doctrine taught by the apostles. He believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord, and embraced the gospel of Christ.