Learn more about Paphos

Introduction to Paphos

Paphos is a historically rich city on the southwestern coast of Cyprus. In biblical contexts, it holds importance as the location where the Apostle Paul and Barnabas reached the island’s capital and encountered significant spiritual opposition as recorded in Acts 13. Beyond its New Testament relevance, Paphos was a major religious and administrative center in antiquity—famed for its sanctuary of Aphrodite (Old Paphos, Palaiaphos), its role as the Roman provincial capital during the first century, and its stunning Hellenistic and Roman-era archaeological remains that have earned it UNESCO World Heritage status.

Paphos Pronunciation

The word “Paphos” is pronounced PAF‑oss—with the emphasis on the first syllable. The Greek form “Páphos” preserves the same stress.

Paphos in the Bible (New Testament)

Paphos appears exclusively in the New Testament in Acts 13, during Paul and Barnabas’s first missionary journey from Antioch. They arrive on Cyprus, travel from Salamis on the eastern coast across the island, and reach Paphos on the west:

• Acts 13:6: “When they had traveled through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a magician... named Bar-Jesus.” This “magician” (also called Elymas) served in the court of Sergius Paulus, the Roman proconsul of Cyprus. Paul rebuked him, and through divine judgment (temporary blindness), the proconsul believed .
• Acts 13:7: Sergius Paulus, “a man of intelligence,” summons Paul and hears the word of God .
• Acts 13:12: After Elymas’s rebuke, Sergius Paulus becomes a believer .
• Acts 13:13: Paul and companions set sail from Paphos for Perga in Pamphylia; at this point John Mark departs and returns to Jerusalem .

Paphos thus marks both a spiritual victory—the conversion of the first known Roman proconsul—and a change in the missionary team’s composition.

Historical & Archaeological Context

Paphos is often referred to as New Paphos (Nea Paphos), founded around 320 BC by Nicocles, the last Greek king of old Paphos (Palaiaphos) . .

Nearby Old Paphos (Kouklia) was the center of worship for the goddess Aphrodite, believed to have emerged from the sea at that location. Its temple was a major cult site throughout antiquity, with origins tracing back to the Bronze Age .

Related Themes and Meanings

• Spiritual Opposition: Elymas (Bar‑Jesus) challenges Paul, representing conflict between Christian proclamation and pagan sorcery (Acts 13).
• Roman Authority Embracing Gospel: Sergius Paulus—a Roman official—embraces the Christian message, marking a significant early Gentile conversion in a position of power.
• Missionary Transition: The departure of John Mark at Paphos foreshadows later tensions between Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:39).
• Cultural Intersection: Paphos symbolized a mix of pagan and Christian cultures—Aphrodite’s ancient worship juxtaposed with the nascent Christian mission.
• Symbol of Divine Authority: God empowers Paul to rebuke Elymas, affirming apostolic authority through miraculous signs.

Trivia & Interesting Facts

• Paphos is mentioned only once in the Bible by name, but that single appearance bears great spiritual significance.
• Acts refers to Paul as “Saul” until this episode in Paphos; shortly after, he is called “Paul” (Acts 13:9), marking a name transition .
• UNESCO designated Paphos and Kouklia a World Heritage Site in 1980, recognizing the city’s mosaics, ancient remains, and religious heritage.
• Modern Paphos is a cultural hub—hosting a European Capital of Culture in 2017—and is one of Cyprus’s top tourism destinations.
• The clash between Paul and Elymas ("Elymas" means “sorcerer” in Greek) is recounted again by early church fathers as an example of spiritual authority wielded in Christ’s name.

Summary

Paphos is a city of layered significance: culturally, as an ancient seat of pagan worship; historically, as the capital of Roman Cyprus; and spiritually, as the stage for God’s decisive intervention in Acts 13. In one dramatic moment—Paul’s confrontation with Elymas and Sergius Paulus’s conversion—the gospel triumphs over sorcery, and the kingdom message extends into civic structures of power. For Bible readers, Paphos is remembered as the place where the mission penetrated Roman authority, and where Paul’s apostolic identity solidified.

Scripture References

• Acts 13:4–12: Mission begins in Salamis and travels to Paphos; confrontation with Elymas; conversion of Sergius Paulus.
• Acts 13:13–14: Departure from Paphos; John Mark’s departure.
• Acts 15:39: Barnabas and John Mark return to Cyprus, referencing earlier ministry on the island.
• Acts 21:16: Mnason from Cyprus hosts Paul—possibly indicating Cyprus’s early Christian community.