Blinded by Grace

The Call to the Gentiles

The church in Antioch had become my home, and the Spirit of God was moving powerfully among us. Every day, I saw the truth of Jesus spreading like wildfire, reaching people from every background. It was clear that God’s plan was far greater than I had ever imagined, it wasn’t just for Israel, but for the whole world. And Antioch was the first place where I truly saw this unfold. Jews and Gentiles worshiping together, united by the same faith in Christ, was something miraculous.

Barnabas and I worked tirelessly, teaching the believers and guiding the new converts. The more I poured into the Scriptures, the more I marveled at how God’s promises to Israel were being fulfilled in ways that I hadn’t seen before. The words of the prophets echoed in my mind, Isaiah’s vision of the nations coming to worship the God of Israel, Joel’s promise of the Spirit being poured out on all flesh. These weren’t distant dreams; they were happening right before my eyes.

Still, I sensed something even greater was coming. I couldn’t explain it, but the Spirit was stirring within me, urging me forward. Then, one day, the confirmation came.

It started as a regular day of worship and prayer. The believers had gathered together, and we fasted, seeking direction from the Lord. As we prayed, the Holy Spirit spoke, not in a booming voice, but clearly, through the gathered prophets and teachers.

“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

I froze. The words hit me like a bolt of lightning. God was sending us out. He had something specific in mind for us, a mission that went beyond what we were already doing in Antioch. Barnabas looked at me, his eyes wide with excitement. I could see that he felt the same sense of awe.

We didn’t waste any time. After more prayer and fasting, the leaders laid their hands on us, praying for God’s blessing. They sent us off with their full support, and just like that, Barnabas and I were on the road again, ready to follow the Spirit’s leading.

Our first stop was the island of Cyprus, Barnabas’ homeland. It made sense to begin there. As we sailed from the port of Seleucia, the anticipation grew in my heart. I had been waiting for this moment. I wasn’t just sharing the gospel with those who came to us anymore, now, we were going out to bring the message of Jesus to new lands.

When we landed in Salamis, the largest city in Cyprus, we went straight to the synagogues. This had become our custom: first, to speak to the Jews, my own people. I would reason with them from the Scriptures, showing how everything pointed to Jesus as the Messiah. But in the back of my mind, I knew that this mission was bigger than just the Jews. It was for the Gentiles, too.

The response in the synagogues was mixed, as it often was. Some listened, intrigued by the message. Others were furious, accusing me of blasphemy for claiming that the crucified Jesus was the Messiah. But I didn’t let their anger shake me. The Spirit burned within me, and I knew that I was on the right path.

We continued across the island, traveling from town to town, preaching the good news of Jesus. It wasn’t until we reached Paphos, on the far western side of Cyprus, that we encountered the first true test of our mission.

In Paphos, we were brought before the Roman proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of high authority who was curious about our message. He had heard about the things we were preaching and wanted to hear for himself. I knew this was a pivotal moment. If someone like Sergius Paulus, a Gentile, a Roman official, believed in Jesus, it would mark a major turning point in our mission.

But standing in our way was a man named Elymas, a Jewish sorcerer who served as an advisor to the proconsul. Elymas, also known as Bar-Jesus, opposed everything we said. He saw us as a threat, not just to his influence over Sergius Paulus, but to his entire way of life. Every time we spoke, Elymas interrupted, twisting our words and trying to discredit us. I could feel the tension building.

I had dealt with opposition before, but this was different. Elymas wasn’t just rejecting the gospel, he was actively trying to prevent someone from hearing the truth. The Spirit inside me stirred with righteous anger. I could see that Elymas wasn’t merely a man with misguided beliefs; he was standing in direct opposition to God’s plan.

Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. The Spirit filled me, and I looked directly at Elymas. My voice was steady, but firm. “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?”

The words came with power. I could feel the authority of God behind them, and as I spoke, something shifted in the room. Elymas’ smug defiance turned to confusion, and then to fear. I could sense that the Spirit of God was moving.

“The hand of the Lord is against you,” I continued. “You are going to be blind, and for a time, you will be unable to see the light of the sun.”

In an instant, Elymas stumbled backward, his hands reaching out, grasping at the air. His eyes were wide with terror as darkness descended on him. He fumbled, trying to find his way, but his blindness had taken over. The people around him gasped, pulling away from the man who had once been their trusted advisor.

Sergius Paulus watched the whole scene unfold, his face a mix of shock and awe. He had seen the power of God firsthand, and it left him speechless. He turned to Barnabas and me, and in that moment, I knew that the Spirit had broken through the barriers that had held him back.

Sergius Paulus believed.

The proconsul, a man of power and influence, had come to faith in Jesus, and the implications were staggering. The gospel was no longer confined to the Jewish synagogues, it was reaching the highest levels of Roman society. God was opening doors that I had never imagined.

After that, I sensed a shift in my own identity. I was no longer the same man who had started this journey. From that moment, I began to go by my Roman name, Paul. It was a small but significant change, reflecting the fact that my mission was no longer just to my fellow Jews, but to the Gentiles, to the nations beyond Israel.

From Cyprus, we continued our journey, traveling to new lands, preaching in new cities. Every step of the way, I could see the hand of God leading us, breaking down barriers, opening hearts, and calling people to Himself.

But the road ahead would not be easy. The further we went, the more opposition we encountered. And soon, the trials of this mission would test our faith and endurance like never before. Still, I knew one thing for certain: we were on a mission from God Himself, and no force on earth could stop the spread of the gospel. The message of Jesus was unstoppable.