### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word Πάφος (Páphos), Strong's number `{{G3974}}`, refers to a specific geographical location: Paphos, a city on the island of Cyprus. Its derivation is noted as uncertain, but its identity as a proper noun is clear. In the context of the New Testament, it refers specifically to Nea Paphos (New Paphos), which was the Roman capital of Cyprus during the first century AD. This city was located on the southwestern coast of the island, distinct from Palaepaphos (Old Paphos), an ancient cultic center of Aphrodite. As a proper noun, its semantic range is fixed to this specific historical and geographical entity, serving primarily as a setting for biblical events rather than carrying a broader conceptual meaning.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term Πάφος (Páphos) appears only once in the New Testament, specifically in [[Acts 13:6]]. This occurrence is highly significant within the narrative of the early Christian mission. The verse states, "When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus." This marks the culmination of Paul (then still called Saul), Barnabas, and John Mark's journey across Cyprus during their first missionary expedition.
Upon arriving in Paphos, they encounter Sergius Paulus, the proconsul of the island, described as "an intelligent man," who desired to hear the word of God. This encounter is immediately challenged by Bar-Jesus, also known as Elymas, a sorcerer who attempts to turn the proconsul away from the faith. In response, Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, pronounces a temporary blindness upon Elymas, a divine judgment that confirms the truth of the Gospel to Sergius Paulus, who subsequently believes. Paphos thus serves as the crucial backdrop for this dramatic confrontation between the power of God and the forces of spiritual deception, culminating in the conversion of a high-ranking Roman official. It is also in Paphos that the narrative subtly shifts, with Saul consistently referred to as "Paul" thereafter, indicating his emerging leadership role in the missionary endeavor.
### Related Words & Concepts
As a proper noun, Πάφος (Páphos) does not have direct lexical synonyms or antonyms. However, it is intrinsically linked to several broader biblical concepts and geographical terms:
* **Cyprus:** Paphos is the Roman capital of this island, which served as the initial destination for Paul and Barnabas's first missionary journey. The island itself is mentioned numerous times in Acts (e.g., [[Acts 4:36]], [[Acts 11:19]], [[Acts 13:4]], [[Acts 15:39]], [[Acts 21:3]]).
* **Missionary Journeys:** Paphos is a key location in the unfolding narrative of the spread of the Gospel to the Gentile world, particularly Paul's pioneering efforts beyond Jewish communities.
* **Roman Administration/Proconsuls:** The presence of Sergius Paulus highlights the interaction between the early church and Roman authority, an important theme in Acts.
* **Sorcery and Deception:** The conflict with Elymas (Bar-Jesus) underscores the spiritual warfare inherent in the advancement of the Gospel against false teachings and demonic influence.
* **Conversion of Gentiles:** The belief of Sergius Paulus is a significant example of the Gospel's power to reach and transform non-Jewish individuals, fulfilling the mandate to preach to all nations.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of Paphos lies not in the city itself, but in the pivotal events that transpired there. It represents a crucial turning point in the book of Acts and the history of early Christianity:
1. **Divine Authority and Power:** The blinding of Elymas by Paul demonstrates the manifest power of God working through His apostles. This miracle serves as a clear sign, confirming the truth of the Gospel message and establishing Paul's apostolic authority in the eyes of Sergius Paulus and other onlookers. It underscores that the Gospel is not merely human philosophy but a divine revelation backed by supernatural power.
2. **Confrontation with Spiritual Darkness:** Paphos becomes the stage for a direct confrontation between the light of the Gospel and the darkness of paganism and sorcery. God's triumph over Elymas illustrates the superior power of the Holy Spirit over all forms of spiritual deception and opposition.
3. **Expansion to the Gentiles:** The conversion of Sergius Paulus, a Roman proconsul, is immensely significant. It marks one of the earliest instances of a high-ranking Gentile official embracing Christianity, signaling the Gospel's effective penetration into the Roman world and validating the divine mandate for the church to reach beyond its Jewish origins to "the ends of the earth" ([[Acts 1:8]]).
4. **Paul's Ascendancy:** While not directly theological, the shift in the narrative from "Saul and Barnabas" to "Paul and Barnabas" (or simply "Paul") following the events in Paphos signifies Paul's emerging leadership and his central role in the Gentile mission, a role divinely appointed for him.
### Summary
Πάφος (Páphos), Strong's number `{{G3974}}`, refers to the Roman capital of Cyprus, a city on the southwestern coast of the island. Its sole but highly significant occurrence in [[Acts 13:6]] positions it as the backdrop for a critical juncture in Paul's first missionary journey. In Paphos, the Gospel directly confronts spiritual opposition in the person of Elymas the sorcerer, leading to a powerful demonstration of divine authority through Paul. This event culminates in the conversion of Sergius Paulus, the Roman proconsul, marking a crucial step in the spread of the Gospel to influential Gentiles and underscoring God's power to overcome spiritual darkness. Paphos, therefore, stands as a symbol of the victorious advance of the Christian message into the broader Roman world, establishing Paul's apostolic authority and confirming the universal scope of God's saving plan.
TRV