The Holy Spirit selected and sent Barnabas and Saul to take the gospel into more Gentile territories. Upon arrival at a capital city of Cyprus, they encounter a false prophet called Elymas who would resist the Gospel. They also were handed an opportunity to share the Gospel with the appointed governor. As Elymas opposed their preaching, Saul, filled with the Spirit, smote Elymas temporarily blind, this did not deter the governor from hearing the gospel but added to his eagerness to hear and his conversion.