Cyprus in the Bible

In the Bible, Cyprus, located in the eastern Mediterranean, is the third-largest island in the sea. Strategically positioned as a crossroads between Europe, Africa, and Asia, it has historically been a highly contested territory. The island has a subtropical Mediterranean climate. Politically, it is currently divided into the Republic of Cyprus in the south and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the north. The large city of Nicosia (also known as Lefkosia), located slightly north of the center of the island, serves as the capital for both.

Cyprus is mentioned eight times in the Bible, all in the book of Acts: Acts 4:36, 11:19-20, 13:4-13, 15:39, 21:3, 16, and 27:4. In Acts 4:36-37, Luke records: “There was a Levite from Cyprus named Joseph, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means ‘son of encouragement’). He sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.” This passage clearly states that Barnabas, the key companion of Paul during his early missionary journeys, was a Cypriot.

After Stephen was martyred, many disciples left Jerusalem and traveled north to Phoenicia and Cyprus, even as far as Antioch (Acts 11:19). These disciples preached only to Jews. However, some believers from Cyprus and Cyrene came to Antioch and began to preach the gospel to the Greeks as well (Acts 11:20). Later, when Paul and Barnabas were sent out by the church on their first missionary journey, the first place they chose to go was the place most familiar to Barnabas: Cyprus (Acts 13:4).

Because of Barnabas’s connection to Cyprus, he and Paul became the perfect partners for the church’s first missionary “sending out.” Later, after he and Paul decided to separate, Cyprus became the place where Barnabas returned to minister: “But Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus” (Acts 15:39). This is the last time Barnabas is mentioned in the book of Acts, so his subsequent activities are unknown from scripture. According to early Christian tradition, Barnabas remained in Cyprus, where he established the island’s first Christian church and was eventually martyred there around 75 AD. Tradition also says that Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead outside the city of Bethany in Jerusalem (John 11:38-43), also came to Cyprus and is considered to be the first “bishop” of Kition (modern Larnaca).

The sixth mention of Cyprus in the Bible is during Paul’s return journey from his third missionary trip. The Bible says that after sailing from Patara, they “came in sight of Cyprus” (Acts 21:3). When Paul and his companions arrived in Caesarea, after staying for a few days, they were on their way to Jerusalem and arranged to stay with a man named Nason, who was a Cypriot (Acts 21:16). The final mention of Cyprus is during Paul’s voyage to Rome as a prisoner, when they sailed “under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us” (Acts 27:4). Furthermore, the Old Testament name for Cyprus is Kittim (see Isaiah 23:1; Jeremiah 2:10; Ezekiel 27:6).

Text and image source:

• Holy Light Bible Geography Information Network, compiled by Lu Ronghui and Zhang Bailu, 2011 Paul’s European Journey Study Manual, page. 23.