Lexical Summary Paphos: Paphos Original Word: Πάφος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Paphos. Of uncertain derivation; Paphus, a place in Cyprus -- Paphos. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain origin Definition Paphos, a city in Cyprus NASB Translation Paphos (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3974: ΠάφοςΠάφος (perhaps from the root meaning, 'to cozen'; cf. Pape, Eigennamen, under the word), Πάφου, ἡ, Paphos (now Baffa], a maritime city on the island of Cyprus, with a harbor. It was the residence of the Roman proconsul. Old Paphos (now Kuklia), formerly noted for the worship and shrine of Venus (Aphrodite), lay some 7 miles or more southeast of it (Mela 2, 7; Pliny, h. n. 5, 31, 35; Tacitus, hist. 2, 2): Acts 13:6, 13. (Lewin, St. Paul, i. 120ff.) Topical Lexicon Geographical Setting Paphos was the administrative center of Roman Cyprus, situated on the island’s southwestern coast. Two sites bore the name: Old Paphos (near modern Kouklia), famed for the cult of Aphrodite, and New Paphos (modern Pafos), a bustling harbor about ten miles northwest that served as the provincial capital in the first century. Luke’s references point to New Paphos, the seat of the proconsul and departure port for ships bound for Pamphylia. Historical Background Rome annexed Cyprus in 58 BC, later assigning it to the Senate; hence its governor held the title “proconsul,” a detail Luke records with precision (Acts 13:7). Paphos carried a reputation for wealth, trade, and especially for its lavish temple to Aphrodite, which drew pilgrims from across the Mediterranean. This blend of commerce, politics, and pagan devotion formed the backdrop for the apostolic visit. Paphos in the Narrative of Acts 1. Arrival (Acts 13:6) “They traveled through the whole island as far as Paphos, where they found a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus.” Paul and Barnabas had crossed Cyprus from Salamis, evangelizing synagogues along the way. Reaching the capital positioned them before the island’s highest official and its ideological heart. 2. Confrontation and Conversion (Acts 13:7-12) The Jewish magician Elymas opposed the message, but the apostle, “filled with the Holy Spirit,” pronounced judgment, and temporary blindness fell on him. The proconsul Sergius Paulus, witnessing both the teaching and the miracle, “believed, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord” (Acts 13:12). Paphos thus becomes the scene of the first recorded miracle of Paul’s public ministry and the conversion of a Roman ruler, illustrating the gospel’s reach to Gentile authority without undermining its offer to Israel. 3. Departure (Acts 13:13) “From Paphos, Paul and his companions put out to sea and sailed to Perga in Pamphylia.” The port facilitated the launch of the wider mission into Asia Minor. The geographic move also marks Luke’s literary transition from “Barnabas and Saul” (Acts 13:2, 7) to “Paul and his companions,” reflecting Paul’s emerging leadership. Religious Climate and the Gospel Encounter The famed cult of Aphrodite embodied sensuality and superstition. The presence of a Jewish magician at the proconsul’s court shows how syncretism permeated even monotheistic circles. Paul’s Spirit-empowered rebuke of Elymas exposed both pagan and occult error, declaring the superiority of Christ’s kingdom over every falsity, whether Greco-Roman or pseudo-Jewish. The incident also models apostolic authority exercised not for personal acclaim but for the salvation of hearers and the defense of gospel truth. Archaeological and Historical Corroboration Inscriptions from Paphos identify the city as a proconsular seat during the reign of Claudius, matching Luke’s terminology. A Latin inscription from nearby Soli mentions “Paulus,” possibly linking to the proconsul’s family. Excavations at New Paphos reveal the Roman “villa of Theseus,” an ornate governor’s residence dating to the period, lending substance to Luke’s setting. These findings underscore the historical reliability of Acts. Doctrinal and Practical Implications • The episode affirms that civil authority is not incompatible with faith; Sergius Paulus’s belief anticipates other Roman conversions recorded in Acts. Summary Paphos, though mentioned only twice (Acts 13:6, 13), stands as a pivotal crossroads in apostolic history. Geographically it was a port that opened the Mediterranean world; spiritually it was a battleground where the gospel triumphed over occult opposition and reached the highest echelons of Roman power. The city’s mention in Scripture, confirmed by archaeology and consistent with known provincial structures, reinforces confidence in the biblical record and offers enduring lessons for mission, courage, and the supremacy of Christ in any cultural stronghold. Forms and Transliterations Παφου Πάφου πάχει πάχη πάχνη πάχνην πάχος Paphou PáphouLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Acts 13:6 N-GFSGRK: νῆσον ἄχρι Πάφου εὗρον ἄνδρα NAS: as far as Paphos, they found KJV: unto Paphos, they found INT: island as far as Paphos they found a fellow Acts 13:13 N-GFS |
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