The island’s central location and busy ports would have been familiar to the original readers of Acts. Referring to Cyprus may have been one way those in the first century gave directions, similar to our saying, “Go two miles past the big red barn.” Luke mentions Cyprus twice as a place Paul passed while traveling to somewhere else (Acts 21:3 27:4). As far as we know, Paul never visited Cyprus again. Later, Barnabas returned to Cyprus, taking Mark with him for more evangelistic work in his native land (Acts 15:38–39). Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Paul caused Elymas to go blind, and Sergius Paulus exercised faith in Christ (Acts 13:4–12).Īfter sailing from Cyprus, John Mark abandoned the team, but Paul and Barnabas continued their pioneering missionary work in Asia Minor. Unfortunately, the proconsul’s associate, Elymas, was a sorcerer who contradicted the gospel and tried to keep Sergius Paulus from converting. When they arrived at the city of Paphos in the southwest, the island’s Roman proconsul, Sergius Paulus, summoned Paul and his companions and listened to their message. The missionaries then traveled west, crossing the island, but they apparently did not see much fruit from their labors. They sailed from Syria to Salamis on the east end of Cyprus, where they preached in the synagogue. It was to the island of Cyprus that Paul took his first missionary journey with Barnabas and John Mark (Acts 13:4–13). The Lord blessed their efforts, and “a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord” (verse 21). Then some of the believers from Cyprus went to Antioch in Syria and began to evangelize the Greeks there, “telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus” (verse 20). After the martyrdom of Stephen, many Christians scattered from Jerusalem, and some “traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews” (Acts 11:19). Cyprus was also the home of Mnason, who was most likely one of the first converts at Pentecost (Acts 2:41 21:16). In the New Testament, Cyprus is noted as being the home of Barnabas (Acts 4:36). The people of Cyprus would invade someday, afflicting Assyria and Israel, but they would ultimately fail. In ancient times, Cyprus was known for its active commerce, producing corn, oil, wine, timber, and minerals, which were shipped to distant ports.Ĭyprus (also called Kittim) is mentioned in Numbers 24:24 as a part of Balaam’s prophecy to Balak. It was given the name Kypros (“Land of the Cypress Trees”) by the Greeks. Cyprus is about 148 miles long and 40 miles wide. A short distance inland from the small harbour stands a stone pillar, to which it is claimed that Paul was tied and whipped, while further east along the coast at the Rock of Aphrodite is a shingle-covered bay where Aphrodite (Venus) allegedly rose from the sea.Cyprus is a large island in the Mediterranean Sea approximately 60 miles west of Syria and 50 miles south of Turkey. Other attractions include remains of the Roman agora (the market place), the reconstructed 2 nd century Odeon (theatre) and the Temple of Apollo, rebuilt by the Romans after an earthquake in 100AD. Nearby, visitors to the House of Aion, and the Houses of Theseus, Orpheus and Dionysos gaze at the beautifully preserved mosaic floors laid by these prosperous Romans in their 3 rd and 4 th century villas. Twenty-first century holidaymakers at the popular resort of Paphos in the Greek Cypriot administered region of Southern Cyprus fill the many restaurants overlooking the old harbour and the ancient Byzantine fortress. The bay near Paphos where Aphrodite was said to have emerged from the waves Paphos was also the home of the Roman proconsul, Sergius Paulus, and his court of attendants and ‘publicani’ – public servants who collected taxes and maintained the bureaucracy of the Roman administration. The island of Cyprus is traditionally regarded as the home of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, (known as ‘Venus’ by the Romans) and in Paul’s day, Paphos was famed for its impressive Temple of Aphrodite. Paphos was the Roman capital of Cyprus and an important port (see Map 23 ). Amazed by what happens, the Roman proconsul believes the Good News about Jesus. Paul (who, like the proconsul, also has the Latin name ‘Paulus’ meaning ‘small’) filled with the Holy Spirit, tells Elymas that he is a “son of the devil” (Acts 13:10) and condemns him to temporary blindness. Our weekly programs include life groups and kids worship. We help guide kids from birth through 5th grade as they grow to love God and love others Kids will experience engaging Bible teaching, small group activities, worship experiences and opportunities for fun and fellowship. In Paphos they meet a Jewish ‘magician’ called Elymas (or Bar-Jesus, meaning ‘son of Jesus’ or 'Son of Joshua') who is an attendant of the Roman proconsul Sergius Paulus. Foundry Kids is the Kids’ ministry at Foundry Church. The Birth of Venus (Aphrodite), Sandro Botticelli (Acts 13:6) Acts 13:6-12 Paul, Barnabas and John Mark then walk the 90 miles / 145 km across the south coast of Cyprus, preaching at the Jewish synagogues en route until they reach Paphos (see 2 on Map 23), reputedly the birthplace of the Greek goddess Aphrodite.
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