Paphos
Paphos is an ancient city mentioned in the New Testament, located in modern-day Cyprus. Known today as New Paphos. It appears across 2 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Paphos was the administrative capital of the Roman province of Cyprus, located on the island's southwestern coast. It appears in Acts 13:6-13 during Paul's first missionary journey, when Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark traversed the entire island from Salamis in the east to Paphos in the west. At Paphos, they encountered two significant figures: Bar-Jesus (also called Elymas), a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet, and Sergius Paulus, the Roman proconsul described as an intelligent man. When Elymas attempted to turn the proconsul away from the faith, Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, pronounced temporary blindness upon the sorcerer. Witnessing this display of divine power, Sergius Paulus believed, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord (Acts 13:12). This event marked a pivotal moment in early Christian history: it was the first recorded conversion of a Roman official, demonstrated apostolic authority over false spiritual powers, and coincided with Saul's transition to being called Paul. From Paphos, the missionary party sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, continuing the westward expansion of the gospel.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
New Paphos (Nea Paphos), the Roman capital visited by Paul, is located at modern Kato Paphos in southwestern Cyprus and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Extensive excavations have uncovered remarkable floor mosaics in the Houses of Dionysos, Theseus, Aion, and Orpheus, dating from the second to fifth centuries AD. The remains of the Roman governor's palace, where Paul likely appeared before Sergius Paulus, have been partially excavated. A Latin inscription found at Soli on Cyprus mentions "Paulus Proconsul," potentially corroborating the Acts account. The site also preserves an early Christian basilica, Roman odeon, and extensive catacombs known as the Tombs of the Kings. Ongoing excavations by Polish, Australian, and Cypriot teams continue to reveal the city's layered history.
Verse Appearances (2)
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →