Cyprus, a large island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, is mentioned multiple times in the New Testament, primarily in connection with early Christian missions.
The first major reference is in Acts 4:36, where Barnabas is introduced as “Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus.” He later becomes a key companion of Paul on his missionary journeys. Cyprus is significant in the early spread of the Gospel, as it was the first place visited by Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey.
In Acts 13:4–12, Paul and Barnabas, sent by the Holy Spirit, departed from Antioch and sailed to Cyprus. They preached the word of God in Salamis, the eastern city of the island, and then traveled across to Paphos on the western side. There they encountered a false prophet and sorcerer named Bar-Jesus, also called Elymas. When Elymas tried to oppose their message, Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, rebuked him and struck him with temporary blindness. The proconsul, Sergius Paulus, witnessing the miracle and the teaching, believed, marking a significant Gentile conversion.
Later, after parting ways with Paul, Barnabas took John Mark and returned to minister in Cyprus (Acts 15:39), indicating the continued Christian witness there.
Cyprus is also mentioned in Acts 21:3 and Acts 27:4 as a geographic marker during Paul’s voyages. In these accounts, it serves more as a reference point in travel.
The early presence of believers from Cyprus is noted in Acts 11:19–20, where those scattered by the persecution after Stephen’s death preached the Gospel to Jews in various regions, including Cyprus. Some even preached to Gentiles in Antioch, showing the inclusive expansion of the church.
Cyprus represents one of the earliest Gentile mission fields and a key link in the spread of Christianity through the Mediterranean. Its role in Paul’s missionary journey and the conversion of a Roman official highlight the Gospel’s reach into both Jewish and Gentile communities through Spirit-led ministry.
