When Barnabas and Saul (who also is called Paul) come to the island of Paphos, there are confronted by a sorcerer and false prophet whose name was Barjesus, also known as Elymas. This false prophet was with Sergius Paulus, the deputy of that country, but the Bible says that Sergius Paulus was a prudent man and he called for Barnabas and Saul, from whom he could hear the word of God. Elymas the sorcerer however withstood them and sought to turn away the deputy from faith that comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). Paul tells Elymas that for his opposition to righteousness and his perversion of God’s right ways, he will be blind for a season and Elymas turns blind. Upon seeing this Sergius Paulus, is astonished and believes.

What can we learn from Sergius Paulus?
Even though Sergius Paulus had Elymas the sorcerer with him, he was wise to call for Barnabas and Saul and when he saw the sovereignty of God in blinding the sorcerer that wanted to blind Sergius Paulus from the faith,  Sergius Paulus believed. Like Sergius Paulus, we must be prudent as well and seek to hear the word of God.

Acts 13: 6-12 (KJV)
6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:
7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him.
10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.