Cyprus | AdventAI

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Dec 19, 1878

Cyprus.

An interest is naturally awakened in regard to the island of Cyprus, because it has lately passed from the hands of the Turks to those of the English. It was an English possession from 1191 to 1480. After this it belonged to the Venetians until taken by the Turks in 1571. They have held it three hundred years.

It lies in the N. E. angle of the Mediterranean, and is about 150 miles long. It has an interesting New Testament history.

The gospel was first preached in Cyprus by some who were "scattered abroad" after the death of Stephen. Acts 11:19. It was the native country of Barnabas, who had possessions there, which he sold, and devoted the proceeds to the cause of God, when he was converted to Christianity. Acts 4:36, 37. Afterwards he and Paul visited the land together. In giving a history of this visit, Acts 13, Luke mentions that Saul was also called Paul. Some think his name was changed in Cyprus. Saul was a name common among the Hebrews. Paul is probably of Latin origin. It was here that Elymas the sorcerer was smitten with blindness. The governor of Cyprus, Sergius Paulus, was the first ruler who embraced the doctrine of Christ.

When Paul and Barnabas separated because they did not agree about taking Mark with them, Barnabas and Mark returned to Cyprus, where the history left him. Acts 15. Luke only mentions it further that twice with Paul he sailed near to it.