Acts 13:4-7 - On Cyprus

13:4,5

Luke emphasises that it was the Holy Spirit who was directing affairs. Selucia was a coastal town some fifteen miles west of Antioch.  Then they sailed to Cyprus, about 60 miles away, Barnabas had contacts in Cyprus (Acts 4:36), Cyprus was quite a wealthy place. Salamis was the first port that they reached, and was also the most prominent city in Cyprus with some 100 000 residents. There was also a Jewish community there, but it was slaughtered in the second century. The Jews have always been victims of persecution. The historical and geographical details we find here, and indeed throughout the Bible, are a sign of how grounded the Bible is in the real world. Once they had landed they began to preach the word of God, starting in the synagogues. Saul knew that he would be preaching to the Gentiles, as that was God’s call on his life, but even so they usually started in the synagogues. As well as the “first to the Jews ...” principle, there is also the very practical reason that it provided an early opening for them.

13:6,7

They walked their way across the island to Paphos which was on the western side. They would have passed through various towns and cities on the way, presumably they preached in these places, but no mention of that is made here. In Paphos they encountered a Jew who was a sorcerer and a false prophet. There is a record of some notable magicians having Jewish roots. This man was with the proconsul, something akin to a special adviser in today’s terms. The proconsul, Sergius Paulus, wanted to meet with Barnabas and Saul, and to hear the word of God. The date for this is probably around AD45-46.