Topical Bible: Paul: Visits Much of the Island of Cyprus

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The Apostle Paul's journey to Cyprus is a significant event in the early Christian mission, marking the beginning of his first missionary journey. This journey is documented in the Acts of the Apostles, specifically in Acts 13. Paul, accompanied by Barnabas and John Mark, set sail from Seleucia and arrived at Salamis, a major city on the eastern coast of Cyprus.

Biblical Account

In Acts 13:4-5 , it is recorded: "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." This passage highlights the strategic approach of Paul and Barnabas, who began their ministry in the synagogues, reaching out first to the Jewish population.

The journey across Cyprus was not without challenges. As they traveled from Salamis to Paphos, they encountered opposition from a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, also known as Elymas. Acts 13:8-11 describes this confrontation: "But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked directly at Elymas and said, 'You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun.' Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand."

This miraculous event led to the conversion of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a significant Roman official, as noted in Acts 13:12 : "When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord."

Historical and Cultural Context

Cyprus, during the time of Paul, was a Roman province known for its diverse population and strategic location in the Mediterranean. The island was a melting pot of cultures, including Greek, Roman, and Jewish communities. The presence of synagogues in Salamis indicates a well-established Jewish community, providing Paul and Barnabas with an initial audience familiar with the Scriptures.

The conversion of Sergius Paulus is particularly noteworthy, as it represents the Gospel's penetration into the Roman political sphere. This event underscores the power of the Gospel to transcend cultural and social barriers, reaching individuals of high status and influence.

Theological Significance

Paul's visit to Cyprus is a testament to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the missionary endeavors of the early Church. The journey illustrates the fulfillment of the Great Commission, as the message of Christ begins to spread beyond the confines of Judea and Samaria to the ends of the earth (cf. Acts 1:8). The encounter with Elymas also serves as a demonstration of the spiritual authority granted to the apostles, affirming the truth of their message through signs and wonders.

Furthermore, the conversion of Sergius Paulus highlights the transformative power of the Gospel, capable of reaching and changing the hearts of individuals regardless of their background or position. This event foreshadows the broader acceptance of Christianity within the Roman Empire and the eventual establishment of the Church as a significant religious force in the ancient world.

Nave's Topical Index

Acts 13:4
So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed to Seleucia; and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Paul's Missionary Labors.
... campaigns with minor expeditions, five visits to Jerusalem ... Gentile branches of the
church, Paul undertook, in ... and wisdom, though without much immediate success ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 33 pauls missionary labors.htm

His Missionary Travels
... as Paul's patron; for he enjoyed much consideration in ... thrilling as are the notices
of Paul's career given ... over, for instance, all his repeated visits to the ...
/.../stalker/the life of st paul/chapter vi his missionary travels.htm

The Acts of the Apostles
... set out on the first missionary journey, including visits to Cyprus ... Paul the Traveler
and the Roman Citizen has conclusively ... This is a very much debated question ...
/.../drummond/introduction to the new testament/the acts of the apostles.htm

The Last Days of the Old Eastern World
... Pamphylia, and Cilicia, and, above all, that island of Cyprus ... During his visits to
Babylon he occupied one of the ... his court, and found the place so much to his ...
/.../chapter iithe last days of 2.htm

Letter cviii. To Eustochium.
... Much space is devoted to an account of her journey to the ... Nor was she long able to
endure the visits and crowded ... over the sands of Tyre on which Paul had once ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter cviii to eustochium.htm