Cyprus

WHEN the apostle Paul and his traveling companions preached in Cyprus in the first century, they encountered intense opposition. A false prophet, a sorcerer named Bar-Jesus, sought to influence the proconsul in an effort to hinder their ministry. In view of the methods that the sorcerer employed, Paul straightforwardly described him as being ‘full of every sort of fraud and villainy, a son of the Devil, an enemy of everything righteous, one who distorted the right ways of Jehovah.’ (Acts 13:6-12)

Cyprus was later included on Paul’s first missionary tour, about 47-48 C.E. One of his traveling companions was a native Cypriot who had enjoyed association with the apostles of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem after the outpouring of holy spirit in 33 C.E. They had surnamed him Barnabas (Son of Comfort). (Acts 4:34-37) During their ministry in Cyprus, Paul and Barnabas first witnessed in Salamis on the east coast and then worked their way across the island to Paphos on the west. The ruins of Salamis and of Paphos testify to their prominence at the time that Paul and his companions carried on their ministry here.

It was at Paphos that the Roman proconsul Sergius Paulus was converted to Christianity in spite of agitation by the sorcerer Bar-Jesus. The proconsul was, as the Bible says, “astounded at the teaching of Jehovah.”—Acts 13:12.

About two years later, Barnabas along with his cousin Mark returned to Cyprus to do further evangelizing.—Acts 15:36-41.