Through The Bible in a Year - September 1, 2026

“But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him (Elymas the Magician) and said, ‘You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.’” - Acts 13:9-11

Elymas the magician had positioned himself between the gospel and the proconsul (governor) of Cyprus—one of the most powerful men in the region. For the sake of his own influence, the magician was trying to keep the straight paths of the Lord crooked, to prevent someone with real influence from hearing the truth.

So, Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, said what needed to be said. Directly. Boldly. Without softening it to make it more palatable.

“You son of the devil.”

This is not a template for every gospel conversation. But it is a model of Spirit-filled courage that refuses to be intimidated by power or position—that goes right into the jaws of opposition and speaks the truth anyway. With Paul’s rebuke, the Holy Spirit struck the magician blind.

The result? “The proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.”

There is evil in our culture that also requires courageous opposition. Many declare gender is fluid, same-sex relationships are to be celebrated, marriage is optional for sexual intimacy, divorce is inevitable, pornography is acceptable, political hatred is praised, homeless and refugees are despised and neglected. To speak into such evil—there’s danger there. There’s difficulty there. Even in the church, there’s danger there.

So, Paul’s example is meant to remind us that those who depend upon the Spirit and trust His power are not to be silent in the face of sin.

The courage to speak truth in a culture that prefers comfortable silence doesn’t come from confidence in your argument. It comes from being filled confidence in the Holy Spirit. Paul looked intently at Elymas—not with his own resolve but from the same Spirit who had been poured out at Pentecost.

Those of us who depend upon the Spirit still are called to say what needs to be said. This is not a call to be tactless or cruel. It is a call to courage. A call to speak truth to power. A call to speak truth with love. A call to trusting the Spirit to use our testimony even when its expression is dangerous.

Respond: What truth are you staying silent about because the cost of speaking feels too high? What conversation at work, in your family, with a friend, in your community are you avoiding because it’s dangerous or socially costly?

The Spirit who filled Paul to speak truth to power is the same Spirit who stands with you today. You don’t need to manufacture the courage. You need to ask for it—and then open your mouth.

So, as you think of the places where your testimony is needed, ask the Spirit to fill you with the courage to say what needs to be said in a relationship or context where you’ve been silent. Trust Him to work by His grace and power to do what is best for the one to whom you speak – and for you.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, fill me with courage. I can be tempted to remain silent about things that need to be said because the cost of speaking feels too high. I sometimes find myself softening truth to protect myself. I may avoid difficult conversations to keep the peace. I know that you call me to wisdom and loving expression, but help me not to use that standard to give in to fear. You filled Paul to speak truth to power—and the most powerful man in Cyprus believed. Fill me with that same Spirit. I’m not asking for confrontation. I’m asking for courage to say what needs to be said in the way that it is most loving to say it. Help me say what needs to be said where I’ve been afraid to say it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.