Acts 12:19-25
So Herod had them look everywhere for Peter. But they didn’t find him. Then Herod questioned the guards closely. He ordered that they be put to death.
Herod Dies
Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there. He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they got together and asked for a meeting with him. This was because they depended on the king’s country to supply them with food. They gained the support of Blastus and then asked for peace. Blastus was a trusted personal servant of the king.
The appointed day came. Herod was seated on his throne. He was wearing his royal robes. He made a speech to the people. Then they shouted, “This is the voice of a god. It’s not the voice of a man.” Right away an angel of the Lord struck Herod down. Herod had not given praise to God. So he was eaten by worms and died.
But God’s word continued to spread and many people believed the message.
Barnabas and Saul Are Sent Off
Barnabas and Saul finished their task. Then they returned from Jerusalem. They took John Mark with them.
Acts 13:1-12
In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers. Among them were Barnabas, Simeon, and Lucius from Cyrene. Simeon was also called Niger. Another was Manaen. He had been brought up with Herod, the ruler of Galilee. Saul was among them too. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit spoke. “Set apart Barnabas and Saul for me,” he said. “I have appointed them to do special work.” The prophets and teachers fasted and prayed. They placed their hands on Barnabas and Saul. Then they sent them off.
Events on Cyprus
Barnabas and Saul were sent on their way by the Holy Spirit. They went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus. They arrived at Salamis. There they preached God’s word in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.
They traveled all across the island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jew named Bar-Jesus. He was an evil magician and a false prophet. He was an attendant of Sergius Paulus, the governor. Paulus was a man of understanding. He sent for Barnabas and Saul. He wanted to hear God’s word. But the evil magician named Elymas opposed them. The name Elymas means Magician. He tried to keep the governor from becoming a believer. Saul was also known as Paul. He was filled with the Holy Spirit. He looked straight at Elymas. He said to him, “You are a child of the devil! You are an enemy of everything that is right! You cheat people. You use all kinds of tricks. Won’t you ever stop twisting the right ways of the Lord? Now the Lord’s hand is against you. You are going to go blind. For a while you won’t even be able to see the light of the sun.”
Right away mist and darkness came over him. He tried to feel his way around. He wanted to find someone to lead him by the hand. When the governor saw what had happened, he believed. He was amazed at what Paul was teaching about the Lord.
