3. Everyone prayed and went without eating for a while longer. Next, they placed their hands on Barnabas and Saul to show that they had been appointed to do this work. Then everyone sent them on their way.
4. After Barnabas and Saul had been sent by the Holy Spirit, they went to Seleucia. From there they sailed to the island of Cyprus.
5. They arrived at Salamis and began to preach God's message in the Jewish meeting places. They also had John as a helper.
6. Barnabas and Saul went all the way to the city of Paphos on the other end of the island, where they met a Jewish man named Bar-Jesus. He practised witchcraft and was a false prophet.
7. He also worked for Sergius Paulus, who was very clever and was the governor of the island. Sergius Paulus wanted to hear God's message, and he sent for Barnabas and Saul.
8. But Bar-Jesus, whose other name was Elymas, was against them. He even tried to keep the governor from having faith in the Lord.
9. Then Saul, better known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit. He looked straight at Elymas
28-29. They did exactly what the Scriptures said they would. Even though they couldn't find any reason to put Jesus to death, they still asked Pilate to have him killed.After Jesus had been put to death, he was taken down from the cross and placed in a tomb.
30. But God raised him from death!
31. Then for many days Jesus appeared to his followers who had gone with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. Now they are telling our people about him.
32. God made a promise to our ancestors. And we are here to tell you the good news
33. that he has kept this promise to us. It is just as the second Psalm says about Jesus,“You are my son because todayI have become your Father.”
34. God raised Jesus from death and will never let his body decay. It is just as God said,“I will make to youthe same holy promisethat I made to David.”
35. And in another psalm it says, “God will never let the body of his Holy One decay.”
36. When David was alive, he obeyed God. Then after he died, he was buried in the family grave, and his body decayed.
37. But God raised Jesus from death, and his body did not decay.
38. My friends, the message is that Jesus can forgive your sins! The Law of Moses could not set you free from all your sins.