Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

PAPHOS

(Gk. Páphos)

A city on the southwest coast of Cyprus, visited by Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey (Acts 13:6-13). Their visit was actually to New Paphos, established in the 4th century b.c. as a port town at the site of modern Baffo, some 15 km. (9 mi.) distant from the older inland city (modern Kouklia). When Cyprus became part of the Roman Empire in 58 b.c., New Paphos became the capital of the island. At the time of Paul it was the most important city on Cyprus.

Old Paphos was renowned in antiquity for its temple of Aphrodite. According to legend, it was off the coast near Paphos that this goddess was born of sea foam and first appeared to humankind. Traveling on the Roman road from Salalmis to Paphos, Paul and Barnabas would have descended from the hills of central Cyprus to a view of the temple and the two towns with the sea beyond. It was here that they met the proconsul Sergius Paulus and the magician Elymas. Paphos retained its importance until the Byzantine era when Salamis, rebuilt as Constantia, became the island’s capital.

David A. Dorman

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

PAPHOS

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)