The term "Cyprians" refers to the inhabitants of Cyprus, an island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Cyprus holds a significant place in biblical history and early Christianity, as it was one of the first regions outside of Judea to receive the Gospel message. The island is mentioned several times in the New Testament, particularly in the context of the missionary journeys of the Apostle Paul and his companions.

Biblical References

1. Acts 4:36 · Cyprus is first mentioned in the New Testament in connection with Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles. Barnabas played a crucial role in the early church, known for his encouragement and support of new believers. "Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement)."

2. Acts 11:19-20 · Following the persecution that arose after Stephen's martyrdom, some of the scattered believers traveled as far as Cyprus, spreading the word to Jews only. However, some men from Cyprus and Cyrene began to speak to the Greeks as well, proclaiming the Lord Jesus. "Meanwhile, those scattered by the persecution that began with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message only to Jews. But some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks as well, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus."

3. Acts 13:4-5 · Cyprus was the first destination of Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. Sent out by the Holy Spirit, they traveled to the island and proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. "So Barnabas and Saul, sent forth 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. And John was with them as their helper."

4. Acts 15:39 · After a disagreement between Paul and Barnabas regarding John Mark, Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus. This indicates Barnabas's continued commitment to the island and its people. "They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus."

5. Acts 21:3 · Cyprus is mentioned in the context of Paul's return journey to Jerusalem. As they sailed, they sighted Cyprus and passed it on the left, continuing their voyage. "After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria and landed at Tyre, where the ship was to unload its cargo."

Historical and Cultural Context

Cyprus was a significant cultural and commercial hub in the ancient world, known for its strategic location and natural resources, particularly copper. The island was under Roman rule during the New Testament period, and its population was a mix of Greeks, Jews, and other ethnic groups. The presence of Jewish synagogues indicates a substantial Jewish community, which provided a starting point for the spread of Christianity.

The Cyprians, through figures like Barnabas, played a pivotal role in the early church's expansion. Barnabas's influence and missionary work highlight the island's importance as a bridge for the Gospel between the Jewish and Gentile worlds. The Cyprians' openness to the Gospel, as seen in the accounts of Acts, underscores the universal nature of the Christian message and its power to transcend cultural and ethnic boundaries.

Theological Significance

The inclusion of Cyprus in the biblical narrative emphasizes the early church's mission to reach all nations with the Gospel. The Cyprians' involvement in the spread of Christianity illustrates the fulfillment of Jesus' command to be His witnesses "to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). The missionary journeys that included Cyprus serve as a testament to the transformative power of the Gospel and the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding and empowering believers to share the message of salvation.CYPRIANS

sip'-ri-ans (Kuprioi): Occurs in 2 Maccabees 4:29. Menelaus who was high priest at Jerusalem, and Sostratus who was governor of the citadel, were summoned by King Antiochus to appear before him. "Menelaus left his own brother Lysimachus for his deputy in the high-priesthood; and Sostratus left Crates, who was over the Cyprians." The Cyprians were the inhabitants of the island of Cyprus. Barnabas, who was Paul's associate on his first missionary journey, was a Cyprian (Kuprios; see Acts 4:36). the Revised Version (British and American) designates him as a man of Cyprus. The governor of the island was called a Cypriarch (see 2 Maccabees 12:2, and compare ASIARCH).

A. W. Fortune

The Greeks Claim, Without Reason, the Invention of the Arts.
... dreams; the Carians, that of prognosticating by the stars; the Phrygians and the
most ancient Isaurians, augury by the flight of birds; the Cyprians, the art ...
/.../tatian/tatians address to the greeks/chapter i the greeks claim without.htm

Acts xv. 35
... For the Cyprians had exhibited nothing of the like sort as they at Antioch and the
rest: and those needed the softer character, but these needed such a ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xxxiv acts xv 35.htm

Letter Xcii. The Synodical Letter of Theophilus to the Bishops of ...
... The Cyprians he addresses thus: To the well-beloved lords, brothers, and
fellow-bishops, Epiphanius, Marcianus, Agapetus, Boethius, Helpidius, Entasius ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter xcii the synodical letter.htm

But You Will Perhaps Say that the Gods do not Trouble Themselves ...
... Philostephanus relates in his Cypriaca, that Pygmalion, king [4729] of Cyprus, loved
as a woman an image of Venus, which was held by the Cyprians holy and ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/22 but you will perhaps.htm

Preface.
... St. Cyril's, of their Catechetical Lectures, and St. Cyprians, the Pastoral
Letters, which were circulated among them. "The date ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/preface.htm

Life of Socrates.
... In fact, his frequent mention of the customs of Paphlagonians, Thessalians, Cyprians,
and others with minuteness of detail, rather gives the impression that he ...
/.../scholasticus/the ecclesiastical history of scholasticus/ii life of socrates.htm

Acts xi. 19
... "And some of them, which were men of Cyprus and Cyrene," etc. (v.20.) And they did
not say, "(What), we, Cyrenians and Cyprians, to attack this splendid and ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xxv acts xi 19.htm

A Discourse which was in the Presence of Antoninus C??sar
... of the Phoenicians, and left her own kingdom and came and dwelt in Gebal, a fortress
of the Phoenicians, and at the same time made all the Cyprians subject to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the decretals/i a discourse which was.htm

Cyprians (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia CYPRIANS. sip'-ri-ans (Kuprioi): Occurs in 2 Maccabees
4:29. ... AW Fortune. Multi-Version Concordance Cyprians (1 Occurrence). ...
/c/cyprians.htm - 7k

Crates
... kra'-tez (Krates), governor of the Cyprians, left as deputy of Sostratus when the
latter, who was governor of Jerusalem, was summoned to Antioch by Antiochus ...
/c/crates.htm - 6k

Cyprus (12 Occurrences)
... We hear of a body of Cyprians, under the command of a certain Crates, serving among
the troops of Antiochus Epiphanes of Syria and forming part of the garrison ...
/c/cyprus.htm - 27k

Kittim (8 Occurrences)
... by the Scythians (i.105), he states that her temple in Cyprus was an offshoot from
that ancient foundation, as reported by the Cyprians themselves, Phoenicians ...
/k/kittim.htm - 15k

Dispersion (4 Occurrences)
... Scythians " - Madal " Medes and Persian tribes " - Javan " - Elishah " Greeks " -
Tarshish " Etruscans, Romans " - Chittim " Cyprians, Macedonians " - Dodanim ...
/d/dispersion.htm - 44k

Perseus
... Kittim or Chittim, properly of the people of the town of Citium in Cyprus, then
signifying Cyprians, and extended by Jewish writers (Genesis 10:4 Numbers 24:24 ...
/p/perseus.htm - 8k

Cyrenians (2 Occurrences)
... Acts 11:20 But there were certain of them, Cyprians and Cyrenians, who entering
into Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, announcing the glad tidings of the Lord ...
/c/cyrenians.htm - 7k

Cyprian (2 Occurrences)

/c/cyprian.htm - 7k

Cyrenaeans (2 Occurrences)
... Acts 11:20 But some of them were Cyprians and Cyrenaeans, who, on coming to Antioch,
spoke to the Greeks also and told them the Good News concerning the Lord ...
/c/cyrenaeans.htm - 7k

Announcing (17 Occurrences)
... Acts 11:20 But there were certain of them, Cyprians and Cyrenians, who entering
into Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, announcing the glad tidings of the Lord ...
/a/announcing.htm - 11k

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