In 45 or 46 AD, two men arrived on the eastern shores of Cyprus at the port city of Salamis. Their names were Paul and Barnabas, accompanied by a young assistant named John Mark. This journey marked the beginning of what would become known as the First Missionary Journey of early Christianity, and Cyprus held the distinction of being the first stop outside Palestine where these apostles would preach to Gentile populations. The island was about to become the first place in the world governed by a Christian ruler.
Barnabas was actually a native of Cyprus, born Joseph in Salamis to a Jewish family of the tribe of Levi. The early Christian community in Jerusalem had renamed him Barnabas, which means “son of encouragement” in Aramaic. He had sold his property and given all the proceeds to the apostles, demonstrating a remarkable commitment to the new faith.
His companion Paul, still known at this time as Saul, had recently converted from being a persecutor of Christians to becoming one of their most passionate advocates. Together, they set out from Antioch in Syria on a mission that would change the religious landscape of the Mediterranean world.
Historical Background
When Paul and Barnabas landed at Salamis, they immediately went to the Jewish synagogues to preach. This pattern of starting with Jewish communities would characterize their entire journey. From Salamis, they traveled approximately 90 miles across the southern coast of Cyprus toward Paphos, the Roman capital of the island. Two possible routes existed in the first century. The northern route went through Chystri, over the Kyrenia Ridge to the coast, then along to Soli, Arsinoe, and finally south to Paphos. The more likely southern route, known as the Augustan road, passed through Citium (present-day Larnaca), Amathous (near Limassol), and Kourion before reaching Paphos.
Along this route, they stopped at every major urban center to preach in synagogues and public spaces. The journey on foot through the Cypriot landscape in summer heat, wearing only sandals on dusty roads, must have been physically demanding. Yet they persisted, knowing their message was urgent. According to local tradition, they met Lazarus at Larnaca, the man whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Whether this meeting actually occurred remains uncertain, but it demonstrates how strongly Cyprus connected itself to these early Christian events.
Confrontation at Paphos
The most significant event of their Cyprus mission occurred at Paphos. The city served as the seat of Roman government for the entire island, where the proconsul Sergius Paulus maintained his administration. Paphos was also famous for its impressive Temple of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, making it a center of pagan worship. Paul and Barnabas sought an audience with Sergius Paulus, described in the biblical text as an intelligent man who wanted to hear the word of God.
However, they faced opposition from a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Elymas, also called Bar-Jesus. Elymas served as a close advisor to Sergius Paulus and feared losing his influence over the proconsul if Paul and Barnabas succeeded in their mission. He actively worked to prevent the meeting and turn Sergius Paulus away from the Christian message.
The confrontation came to a head when Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, directly challenged Elymas. Paul declared that Elymas would be struck blind as a divine sign, and the sorcerer immediately lost his sight.
This dramatic demonstration of power had a profound effect on Sergius Paulus. According to Acts 13:12, the proconsul believed after witnessing what happened and hearing the teaching about the Lord. This conversion holds immense historical significance. Sergius Paulus became the first recorded Roman official to accept Christianity, making Cyprus the first territory in the world to have a Christian ruler.
Archaeological evidence supports the biblical account:
- An inscription discovered in 1887 at Soli, Cyprus, mentions a proconsul Paulus from the middle of the first century.
- Another inscription found in Rome in 1887 records the appointment in 47 AD of curators for the Tiber River, one of whom was named Sergius, likely the same man after completing his three-year term in Cyprus.
Local Traditions About Paul
Strong local tradition in Paphos holds that Paul suffered punishment before meeting with Sergius Paulus. According to these traditions, Elymas ordered Paul to be tied to a pillar and given 39 lashes. This punishment, known as “forty lashes minus one,” was a standard Jewish penalty for intentional sin. The whip used had 13 separate lashes attached to one handle, so three strikes delivered 39 lashes total. Paul himself mentions in 2 Corinthians 11:24 that he received this punishment five times from Jewish authorities, lending some credibility to the Paphos tradition.
The pillar where this supposedly occurred still stands today at the archaeological site of Panagia Chrysopolitissa Basilica in Paphos. Visitors from around the world come to see this ancient column, known as Saint Paul’s Pillar. However, neither the Book of Acts nor Paul’s letters specifically mention being mistreated in Cyprus, and medieval pilgrims who visited the site recorded seeing an underground prison instead of a pillar. The tradition of the pillar appears to have developed later, possibly in the Byzantine period when the Chrysopolitissa Basilica was built. Whether historically accurate or not, the tradition reflects the deep connection between Cyprus and early Christian history.
Notable Facts About the Mission
The Cyprus mission marked several important firsts in Christian history:
- It was Paul’s first journey outside Palestine to preach to Gentiles.
- It produced the first recorded conversion of a high-ranking Roman official.
- It made Cyprus the first place in the world with a Christian government leader.
These achievements established a pattern that Paul would follow throughout his missionary career, moving from Jewish communities to Gentile audiences and reaching people in positions of power and influence.
Interestingly, a subtle but significant change occurs in the biblical text during the Cyprus mission. Up to this point, the Bible refers to the two missionaries as “Barnabas and Saul.” After the conversion of Sergius Paulus, the text begins calling him by his Roman name Paul and reverses the order to “Paul and Barnabas” in most instances. This shift reflects Paul’s emerging role as the primary spokesman of the pair.
The people of Lystra later mistook them for Greek gods, calling Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes, because Paul did most of the speaking. John Mark, the young assistant who accompanied them, was actually Barnabas’s cousin or nephew. Mark left the mission team when they departed Cyprus for Pamphylia, returning to Jerusalem. This decision would later cause a major dispute between Paul and Barnabas. When planning a second missionary journey, Barnabas wanted to bring Mark again, but Paul refused because Mark had abandoned them previously. The disagreement became so sharp that the two men separated. Barnabas took Mark and returned to Cyprus, while Paul chose Silas as his new companion and headed to Syria and Cilicia. Despite this conflict, Paul later mentions Barnabas positively in his letters, suggesting they eventually reconciled.
What Happened to Barnabas
After separating from Paul, Barnabas devoted himself to building up the church in Cyprus. Christian tradition identifies him as the first Bishop of Salamis and the founder of the Cypriot Orthodox Church. He worked tirelessly in his homeland, preaching and establishing communities of believers.
According to church tradition, his death came around 61 AD in Salamis, though historical records cannot verify this date or the circumstances.
The traditional account describes his martyrdom in vivid detail:
- While preaching at a synagogue in Salamis, Jewish opponents became enraged at his success in converting people.
- They dragged him from the synagogue with a rope around his neck, stoned him, and burned his body.
- John Mark, who had returned to work with his cousin, secretly recovered Barnabas’s remains and buried them in a hidden location.
- The tomb remained undiscovered for over 400 years until around 480 AD, when Bishop Anthemios of Cyprus claimed to have a dream revealing its location beneath a carob tree. When opened, the tomb reportedly contained Barnabas’s body holding an illuminated copy of the Gospel of Matthew.
Visiting the Historical Sites Today
Modern visitors to Cyprus can follow in the footsteps of Paul and Barnabas across the island.
- In the Turkish Cypriot administered area of Northern Cyprus, the Tomb of Saint Barnabas near ancient Salamis attracts pilgrims and tourists. The site includes a monastery church, an icon museum with valuable Byzantine artwork, and an archaeological museum displaying rare ceramics from Salamis and Enkomi. The tomb itself lies about 100 yards from the monastery, built on the spot where Bishop Anthemios reportedly discovered Barnabas’s remains.
- In Paphos, the archaeological site of Panagia Chrysopolitissa contains Saint Paul’s Pillar surrounded by ancient ruins. The standing columns with their Corinthian capitals, fragments of colorful mosaic floors, and the foundations of the massive basilica give a sense of early Christian grandeur.
- The pillar itself is a simple column where tradition says Paul was bound and whipped. Nearby stands the Agia Kyriaki Church, still used for worship by multiple Christian denominations.
- The entire area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized for its exceptional historical and cultural value.
Why This Mission Still Matters
The Cyprus mission of Paul and Barnabas demonstrates how rapidly Christianity spread beyond its Jewish origins. Within just a few years of Jesus’s crucifixion, his followers had organized themselves, developed their message, and begun actively seeking converts across the Mediterranean world.
The conversion of Sergius Paulus showed that Christianity could appeal to educated Roman officials, not just to the poor and marginalized. This broadened the movement’s appeal and helped establish its credibility.
The story also highlights the importance of Cyprus in early Christian history. As the birthplace of Barnabas and the site of the first Gentile ruler’s conversion, Cyprus played a foundational role in the new religion’s development. The island served as a bridge between the Jewish heartland of Christianity and the wider Gentile world. Its mixed population of Greeks, Romans, Jews, and others provided a testing ground for how the Christian message would translate across cultural boundaries.
The relationship between Paul and Barnabas, with its collaboration, conflict, and eventual reconciliation, offers a human dimension to the story. These were real people with different personalities and priorities, working together toward a common goal while sometimes disagreeing about methods. Their ability to maintain respect for each other despite their disagreement about John Mark shows maturity and dedication to the larger mission. Cyprus remains proud of its connection to these pioneering missionaries who helped shape the Christian faith.
