This is the Bay-Maw Podcast with Marty Solomon. I'm his co-host Brent Billings. Today we come back to the story of Saul and see what is impacting his experience and how that is calling him to impact the Greco Roman world.

That's right. So how about we dive into some text right off the bat Brent? We're just going to keep moving through Acts. Tell us where we're going to pick up the story and where you're going to start reading here. Give us our first passage.

1225. When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John also called Mark.

Now in the church at Aniach, there were prophets and teachers. Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manin, who had been brought up with hair of the tetra and Saul.

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, sit apart from E Barnabas and Saul, for the work to which I have called them. So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

The two of them sent on their way by the Holy Spirit went down to Solution and sailed from there to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues.

John was with them as their helper. They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar Jesus, who was an attendant of the Proconcil, Sergeus Paulus.

The Proconcil, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elements, the sorcerer, for that is what his name means, opposed them and tried to turn the Proconcil from the faith.

Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elements and said, you are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right.

You were full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.

Immediately, a mist and darkness came over him and he gropeed about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. When the Proconcil saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphilia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. From Perga, they went on to besitting an Antioch. On the Sabbath, they entered the synagogue and sat down.

Barnabas and Saul arrive at Cyprus. Seems clear that they are taking the standard route to Asia. Grabbing a boat, they are going to head to Asia.

But they are sailing west and they are making the normal stop at Cyprus. This is the likely place to begin this first missionary journey.

Cyprus is the island that sits just west off the Mediterranean coast. From Antioch, it is a logical stop for all ships sailing west. When Barnabas and Saul get to Cyprus, we are told that John markets with them as well, by the way.

They begin proclaiming this message of a new king and a new kingdom in the synagogues of the region. We are not given the impression that they have a negative experience at all or find any trouble being received by their Jewish brothers.

This would be relevant later, by the way. But eventually, they meet a Jewish sorcerer if you are scratching your head at that. Is that seem a little odd to you, Brent? Oh, it was weird.

Jewish sorcerer. You should be scratching your head. This is a direct violation of Torah. Who happens to work? This sorcerer happens to work for the Roman Pro-Consul named Sergius Paulus.

You can think of the Pro-Consul as the Secretary of State. You can think of Sergius Paulus as that guy in the Roman world. Some think it is a regional but most scholars say this is an imperial role, the Pro-Consul.

Saul, Sha'u, boldly confronts the sinful and deceptive lifestyle of this false prophet Alemus, who is immediately engulfed in darkness and blindness upon seeing this encounter.

Sergius Paulus believes in the Lord, finds himself amazed at the teaching. What I find so interesting in this story is that Saul changes his name to what?

Brent. Paul. Paul. Why would you suppose he does that, Brent? He is a little bit of reputation. Sure. I didn't think about that. Yes, sure. But why Paul? Why not choose George or something like that?

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