Paul's First Missionary Journey - On Cyprus; Acts 13: 4 – 12 – Part 4

Church History: In Acts 13:9. “Then Saul, who was also called Paul” This is the first time that Luke refers to him as Paul and the last time as Saul. It is not improbable, that coming now among the Romans, they would naturally adapt his name to their own language, and so called him Paul instead of Saul. Perhaps the family of the proconsul might be the first who addressed to or spoke of him by this name. And from this time, being the apostle of the Gentiles, he himself used the name which was more familiar to them.
Paul looked at Elymas and rebuked him for his present crime, and tried to reason with him: "Wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord, to misrepresent them, to put false colors upon them, and so to discourage people from entering into them, and walking in them?" He announced the judgment of God upon him, in a present blindness. This was designed both for the proof of his crime, as it was a miracle wrought to confirm the right ways of the Lord, and consequently to show the wickedness of him who would not cease to pervert them, as also for the punishment of his crime. It was a suitable punishment; he shut his eyes, the eyes of his mind, against the light of the gospel, and therefore justly were the eyes of his body shut against the light of the sun. Yet it was a moderate punishment that he was only struck blind, when he might most justly have been struck dead; and it was only for a season; if he will repent, and give glory to God, by making confession, his sight shall be restored. This judgment was immediately executed: There fell on him a mist and a darkness, as on the Sodomites when they persecuted Elisha. This silenced him presently, filled him with confusion, and was an effectual confutation of all he said against the doctrine of Christ.
Notwithstanding all the endeavors of Elymas to turn away the deputy from the faith, he was brought to believe, and this miracle, brought upon the magician himself (like the boils of Egypt, which were upon the magicians, so that they could not stand before Moses, (Exodus 9:11), contributed to it. The deputy was a very sensible man, and observed something uncommon, and which was intimated in its divine originality. In Paul's preaching: he was astonished at the doctrine of the Lord, the Lord Christ, the doctrine that is from him, the discoveries he has made of the Father--the doctrine that is concerning him, his person, natures, offices, undertaking.
When they departed from the island of Cyprus it is probable that they did a great deal more there than is recorded. An account is given only of that which was extraordinary, the conversion of the deputy.