Lexical Summary Kupros: Cyprus Original Word: Κύπρος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Cyprus. Of uncertain origin; Cyprus, an island in the Mediterranean -- Cyprus. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain origin Definition Cyprus, an island at the east end of the Mediterranean Sea NASB Translation Cyprus (5). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2954: ΚύπροςΚύπρος, Κύπρου, ἡ, Cyprus, a very fertile and delightful island of the Mediterranean, lying between Cilicia and Syria: Acts 11:19; Acts 13:4; Acts 15:39; Acts 21:3; Acts 27:4 (1 Macc. 15:23; 2 Macc. 10:13). (BB. DD., under the word; Lewin, St. Paul, i. 120ff.) Topical Lexicon Entry Name Cyprus (Κύπρος) – Strong’s Greek 2954 Geographical Setting Cyprus is the third-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, lying at the crossroads of Asia, Europe, and Africa. Its central position along major maritime routes made it an important staging point for trade and travel in both Old and New Testament eras. The island’s fertile soil produced copper, timber, and agricultural products that drew merchants from many nations, giving Cyprus a cosmopolitan population familiar with Greek, Semitic, and Roman cultures. Paphos on the west coast served as the Roman provincial capital, while Salamis on the east was noted for its large Jewish community and numerous synagogues. Occurrences in Acts The name appears five times in the Book of Acts, always in connection with missionary journeys: Acts 11:19; 13:4; 15:39; 21:3; 27:4. These references trace a pattern of gospel movement westward through the island, revealing how the Lord used Cyprus as a launching pad for wider Gentile evangelization. Role in Apostolic Missions 1. Initial scattering (Acts 11:19). Persecution after Stephen’s martyrdom pushed Jewish believers “as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word only to Jews.” The island thus became one of the earliest regions outside Judea to receive the gospel. Barnabas and Other Cypriot Believers Barnabas is repeatedly called “a Levite from Cyprus” (Acts 4:36), indicating a strong Jewish presence on the island and explaining his readiness to reach both Jews and Gentiles. Other Cypriot believers such as Mnason (Acts 21:16) and the unnamed evangelists of Acts 11:20 underline Cyprus’s ongoing contribution to the early Church. Their generosity and hospitality exemplify the fruit of genuine conversion. Prophetic and Symbolic Dimensions Old Testament references to Kittim, often identified with Cyprus (for example, Isaiah 23:1, Jeremiah 2:10), portray the island as a representative of distant coastlands receiving God’s judgment or salvation. In Acts these themes converge as Cyprus becomes an early fulfillment of the promise that the Messiah would be “a light for the Gentiles” reaching “the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6). Lessons for the Church • Strategic location under God’s providence: The use of Cyprus shows how the Lord sovereignly positions His people for maximum gospel impact. Key Passages Acts 13:4-5 – “So Barnabas and Saul, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. Arriving in Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues.” Acts 15:39 – “They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus.” Acts 27:4 – “After putting out to sea from there, we sailed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us.” See Also Barnabas; Salamis; Paphos; Elymas; Sergius Paulus; Kittim; Mediterranean Sea Forms and Transliterations κύπροι Κυπρον Κύπρον Κυπρου Κύπρου Kupron Kuprou Kypron Kýpron Kyprou KýprouLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Acts 11:19 N-GFSGRK: Φοινίκης καὶ Κύπρου καὶ Ἀντιοχείας NAS: to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, KJV: Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, INT: Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch Acts 13:4 N-AFS Acts 15:39 N-AFS Acts 21:3 N-AFS Acts 27:4 N-AFS Strong's Greek 2954 |
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