Who did Paul and Barnabas encounter at Paphos, and what was his background?
Paul and Barnabas encountered a sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus at Paphos. He was a Jew, though the island was primarily Gentile and under Roman dominion. He was with the deputy or governor of the country, Sergius Paulus, who was a Roman.
Les explains that Paul was beginning his missionary journey among the Gentiles, and the church in Antioch sent him and Barnabas out. When they came to the island of Paphos, they ran across a sorcerer, a false prophet, who was a Jew. The island was primarily Gentile and under Roman dominion. The sorcerer’s name was Bar-Jesus, and he was with the deputy or governor of the country, Sergius Paulus, a Roman. Les points to this account as a brief preview related to the mystery of Israel’s judicial blindness.
And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: