Acts 13:4-12

Acts 13:4-12

[4] So  being sent forth  by  the Holy  Ghost,  departed  unto  Seleucia;  and from  thence  they sailed  to  Cyprus.  [5] And  when they were  at  Salamis,  they preached  the word  of God  in  the synagogues  of the Jews:  and  they had  also  John  to their minister.  [6] And  when they had gone through  the isle  unto  Paphos,  they found  a certain  sorcerer,  a false prophet,  a Jew,  whose  name  was Barjesus:  [7] Which  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.  [8] But  Elymas  the sorcerer  (for  so  is his  name  by interpretation  ) withstood  them,  seeking  to turn away  the deputy  from  the faith.  [9] Then  Saul,  (who  also  is called Paul,)  filled with  the Holy  Ghost,  set his eyes  on  him,  [10] And said,  full  of all  subtilty  and  all  mischief,  thou child  of the devil,  thou enemy  of all  righteousness,  not  cease  to pervert  the right  ways  of the Lord?  [11] And  now,  behold,  the hand  of the Lord  is upon  and  blind,  not  seeing  the sun  for  a season.  And  immediately  on  him  a mist  and  a darkness;  and  he went about  seeking  some to lead him by the hand.  [12] Then  the deputy,  what was done,  believed,  being astonished  at  the doctrine  of the Lord. 

What does Acts 13:4-12 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Luke recorded the events of Paul"s first missionary journey to document the extension of the church into new territory and to illustrate the principles and methods by which the church grew. He also did so to show God"s supernatural blessing on the witness of Barnabas and Saul.
". . . the account of Paul"s ministry has two parts: his journeys ( Acts 11-20) and his trials ( Acts 21-28)." [1]
Peter had encountered Simon, a sorcerer, when the Jerusalem church initiated its first major outreach in Samaria ( Acts 8:9-24). Similarly Barnabas and Saul ran into Baruch -Jesus, a false prophet and sorcerer, when the Antioch church conducted its first major outreach to Gentiles. Luke undoubtedly wanted his readers to note the parallel and to draw the conclusion that God was behind the second outreach to Gentiles as He had been behind the first one to Samaritans.