The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia 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 proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are 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 mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

I think this passage shows us a lot about what to do when we run into evil opposition. The first thing we are to do is to be prepared for it and ready — in advance! “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (I Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬-‭9‬)

Second, we must pray for God’s Spirit to guide us every day, and build a relationship with him, whereby we are daily filled with his Spirit. And third, we must listen to his Spirit when he fills us and be bold and courageous to act in confronting evil.

This is what Saul did and he was able to not only defeat the evil man, but he taught and showed the power of God to an earthly leader who converted to the faith!

Lord, help me to be alert and sober-minded, may my life be saturated with prayer, and may I be bold and courageous in following your call to act!