Paphos

Paphos was a city on the island of Cyprus, where Paul and Barnabas encountered a sorcerer and converted the proconsul to Christianity.

Paphos was a city located on the southwestern coast of the island of Cyprus. It served as the capital of the island during the Roman period and was known for its temple dedicated to Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty. In the New Testament, Paphos is mentioned in connection with Paul's first missionary journey (Act.13.6-13).

When Paul and Barnabas arrived in Paphos, they encountered a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus (Act.13.6-7). The proconsul, an intelligent man, summoned Paul and Barnabas and sought to hear the word of God. However, the sorcerer, also known as Elymas, opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith (Act.13.8).

Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, rebuked Elymas and temporarily blinded him, demonstrating the power of God (Act.13.9-11). As a result, the proconsul believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord (Act.13.12). After this incident, Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and traveled to Perga in Pamphylia (Act.13.13).

The capital of the island of Cyprus, and therefore the residence of the Roman governor. It was visited by Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary tour (Acts 13:6). It is new Paphos which is here meant. It lay on the west coast of the island, about 8 miles north of old Paphos. Its modern name is Baffa.