Sha’ul and Bar-Nabba’s First Missionary Journey ~ Part 1
We pick up the ongoing story of Sha’ul in Acts 13. But before we do, we must return to where we left off in our last post to set the stage.
29 So the talmidim decided to provide relief to the brothers living in Y’hudah, each according to his means; 30 and they did it, sending their contribution to the elders in the care of Bar-Nabba and Sha’ul. [1]
We now pick up the story at the end of Acts 12 and go on to Acts 13.
24 But the word of the Lord went on growing and being multiplied. 25 Bar-Nabba and Sha’ul, having completed their errand, returned from Yerushalayim, bringing with them Yochanan, surnamed Mark. [2]
13:1 In the Antioch congregation were prophets and teachers—Bar-Nabba, Shim‘on (known as “the Black”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Menachem (who had been brought up with Herod, the governor), and Sha’ul. 2 One time when they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Ruach HaKodesh said to them, “Set aside for me Bar-Nabba and Sha’ul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 After fasting and praying, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. [3]
4 So these two, after they had been sent out by the Ruach HaKodesh, went down to Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus. 5 After landing in Salamis, they began proclaiming the word of God in the synagogues, with Yochanan (Mark) as an assistant;
Although Sha’ul was called to be Yeshua’s Emissary to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15, 22:21; Romans 15:13; Galatians 1:16, 2:7–9; Ephesians 3:8), he invariably made it his practice throughout his life to bring the Good News of Yeshua the Messiah to the Jews first, wherever there were any (here; Acts 13:14; 14:1; 16:13; 17:1–2, 10, 17; 18:4; 19:8; 28:17 – ten instances). This accords both with his teaching (Romans 1:16). His heart’s longing that Isra’el should be saved (Romans 9:1–5, 10:1, 11:26). With both argument and practice, he thus refutes Two-Covenant theology, which asserts that Jews can be saved without trusting in Yeshua (Yochanan 14:6). Unfortunately, few Gentile Believers have seen fit to obey Sha’ul’s exhortation to be imitators of him (1 Corinthians 11:1) in this area. Instead, if they evangelize at all, they usually reach out to everyone. Still, the Jews, who are often the last to have the Gospel correctly explained to them, are left to rely on hearsay and half-truths or, worse, are presented with error and evil in the name of the Gospel.
6 and thus, they made their way throughout the whole island. They ended up in Paphos, where they found a Jewish sorcerer and pseudo-prophet named Bar-Yeshua. 7 He had attached himself to the governor, Sergius Paulus, who was an intelligent man. Now the governor had called for Bar-Nabba and Sha’ul and was anxious to hear the message about God; 8 but the sorcerer Elymas (for that is how his name is translated) opposed them, doing his best to turn the governor away from the faith.
No one is quite sure what the connection is between the names Bar-Yeshua (“son of Yeshua”), Elymas, and the fact that he was a sorcerer.
9 Then Sha’ul, also known as Paul, filled with the Ruach HaKodesh, stared straight at him and said,
In this verse, we are given Sha’ul’s Roman name. From this point on (except in Acts 22:7, 13, and 26:14, where he recounts the incident that led him to faith), the Brit Hadashah always speaks of him as Paul, undoubtedly because his ministry was primarily among Gentiles. (As I indicated earlier, I will continue to refer to him as Sha’ul.)
10 “You son of Satan, full of fraud and evil! You enemy of everything good! Won’t you ever stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? 11 So now, look! The hand of the Lord is upon you, and for a while, you will be blind, unable to see the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over Elymas, and he groped about, trying to find someone to lead him by the hand. 12 Then, on seeing what had happened, the governor trusted, astounded by the teaching about the Lord. [4]
In our next post, Sha’ul and Bar-Nabba continue their First Missionary Journey.
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[1] Acts 11:29–30.
[2] Acts 12:24–25.
[3] Acts 13:1-3.
[4] Acts 13:1–12.
My Heart is for Israel 
Hi Don, many years ago, when I was in the Canadian Armed Forces, I served with the United Nations Peace Keeping Forces in Famagusta, which is near the ancient archaeological site of Salamis on the eastern coast of Cyprus. I used to buy fresh vegetables there. In addition, I landed and flew out of the Sovereign British Base Area of Akrotiri, on the southern coast of Cyprus, not far from Limassol. Akrotiri, is relatively close to Paphos and I visited the ancient archaeological ruins there. It sure brings back witnessing memories to the soldiers that I served with. Blessings!
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