Paphos

Illustration of Paphos

Paphos, on the southwestern coast of Cyprus, was the Roman provincial capital of the island and the seat of the proconsul Sergius Paulus. It marked the climax of the first leg of the first missionary journey: having preached across the island from Salamis, Barnabas and Saul were summoned by the proconsul, 'a prudent man,' who desired to hear the word of God. There the sorcerer Elymas withstood them and was struck blind at Paul's word - and it is precisely at Paphos that Luke's narrative shifts names forever: 'Saul, (who also is called Paul)...' From Paphos the party sailed for Asia Minor with a new leader; Luke's phrasing quietly changes from 'Barnabas and Saul' to 'Paul and his company.' In pagan antiquity the city was famous as the legendary birthplace of Aphrodite; in Christian history it is where a Roman governor first believed.

0:00

Details

Region
Cyprus
Modern Location
Paphos, Cyprus
Strongest connections in Scripture
Acts 13

Key Passages

Confrontation and Conversion at Paphos

Acts 13:6-12

A sorcerer blinded, a proconsul converted, and Saul stepping forward under his Roman name - Paphos is where the mission to the Gentile world finds its voice.

A6nd when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:

7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. 9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, 10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

Explore Related

Characters

Paul Paul, originally known as Saul of Tarsus, was a zealous Pharisee who actively persecuted early Christiansโ€ฆ Barnabas Barnabas, originally named Joseph, was a Levite from Cyprus who earned the nickname Son of Encouragementโ€ฆ Elymas the Sorcerer Elymas, also called Bar-jesus, was a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet attached to the court of Sergiusโ€ฆ Mark (John Mark) John Mark, also known as Mark, served as a companion to the apostles Paul and Barnabas during their earlyโ€ฆ

Timeline Events

Paul's Missionary Journeys Paul and Barnabas set out to do something no one had attempted: take the gospel to the Gentile world.

Did You Know?

1

A first-century inscription naming 'Paulus the proconsul' was found on Cyprus - possible physical evidence of the very official converted in Acts 13.

2

Pagan Paphos was the legendary birthplace of Aphrodite, goddess of love - the gospel's first proconsul convert believed in the goddess's own capital.

3

From Paphos onward, Luke never calls the apostle 'Saul' again - the name change is permanent from this port city forward.

Key Chapters

Acts 13 Paul's First Missionary Journey 8 min read