cyprus Summary and Overview

one of the largest islands of the Mediterranean, about 148 miles long and 40 broad. It is distant about 60 miles from the Syrian coast. It was the "Chittim" of the Old Testament (Num. 24:24). The Greek colonists gave it the name of Kypros, from the cyprus, i.e., the henna (see CAMPHIRE T0000701), which grew on this island. It was originally inhabited by Phoenicians. In B.C. 477 it fell under the dominion of the Greeks; and became a Roman province B.C. 58. In ancient times it was a centre of great commercial activity. Corn and wine and oil were produced here in the greatest perfection. It was rich also in timber and in mineral wealth. It is first mentioned in the New Testament (Acts 4:36) as the native place of Barnabas. It was the scene of Paul's first missionary labors (13:4-13), when he and Barnabas and John Mark were sent forth by the church of Antioch. It was afterwards visited by Barnabas and Mark alone (15:39). Mnason, an "old disciple," probaly one of the converts of the day of Pentecost belonging to this island, is mentioned (21:16). It is also mentioned in connection with the voyages of Paul (Acts 21:3; 27:4). After being under the Turks for three hundred years, it was given up to the British Government in 1878.

an island of Asia in the Mediterranean. It is about 140 miles long and 50 miles wide at the widest part. Its two chief cities were Salamis, at the east end of the island, and Paphos, at the west end. "Cyprus occupies a distinguished place in both sacred and profane history. It early belonged to the Phoenicians of the neighboring coast; was afterwards colonized by Greeks' passed successively under the power of the Pharaohs, Persians, Ptolemies and Romans, excepting a short period of independence in the fourth century B.C. It was one of the chief seats of the worship of Venus, hence called Cypria. Recently the discoveries in Cyprus by Cesnola have excited new interest. --Appleton's Am. Encyc. It was the native place of Barnabas, #Ac 4:36| and was visited by Paul. #Ac 13:4-13; 15:39; 21:3| See also #Ac 27:4|

CY'PRUS , a large, fertile island of the Mediterranean Sea, triangular in form, 150 miles long, and from 50 to 60 miles broad. Venus was its chief goddess; hence her name Cypria. It contained two prominent cities, Salamis and Paphos, and 17 towns. Salamis was at the east and Paphos at the west end of the island. Acts 13:5. Barnabas was a native of Cyprus, and its people are noticed in apostolic history. Acts 4:36; Acts 13:4; Acts 15:39. Sergius Paulus, proconsul of Cyprus, was converted by Paul on his first missionary-tour, Acts 13:7 ff., and thus became the first Christian ruler on record. History.-Cyprus was colonized by the Phoenicians at a very early date. It was the Chittim, or Kittim, of the O.T. Num 24:24. Through Greek colonists it received the name of Kypros, perhaps from the plant cyprus (henna-Lawsonia alba. See Camphire). Copper-mining and the production of swords, armor, and other articles in bronze were its principal industries. There was also an extensive commerce. In literature, Cyprus boasted of very early distinction. Thothmes III Map of Cyprus. of Egypt conquered the island. At a later period Belus, king of Tyre, destroyed most of its cities. Sargon made it tributary to Assyria, b.c. 707; Apries, king of Egypt (the Pharaoh of Scripture), plundered it. Later, it was tributary to Darius. The Athenians and Lacedemonians conquered part of Cyprus from the Persians, b.c. 477. Alexander the Great was aided by 120 ships from this island in his siege of Tyre, b.c. 335. In b.c. 294 the island was a dependency of Egypt. Cato took possession of it for the Romans. Cicero was proconsul there, b.c. 52. The Byzantine emperors and the Arabs successively held sway. Cyprus was a frequent halting place of the Crusaders. Richard I, of England captured it in A.D. 1191, and sold it to the Knights Templars. Later, the Genoese and Venetians held the island. The Turks dispossessed the Venetians a.d. 1570, and have retained their mastery for more than 300 years. The control of Cyprus was secured in 1878 by the English government as a naval station and base of operation for the protection of Asiatic Turkey and the Indian government. The recent excavations and discoveries of General Cesnola have brought to light a vast number of antiquities and works of art of Phoenician, Egyptian, Greek, and specific Cypriotic characters, which are deposited in the Metropolitan Museum of New York. See Cesnola: Cyprus, its Ancient Cities, Tombs, and Temples, New York. 1878.

The Chittim of Ezekiel 27:6. Citium, one of its towns, is a kindred name. This island in easternmost part of the Mediterranean runs from N.E. to S.W., 148 miles long, about 40 broad for the most part, facing Phoenicia and Lebanon on the E., and Cilicia with the Taurus range on the N.; containing the mountain range of Olympus. Notorious for its licentious worship of Venus, or the Assyrian Astarte. Yet in this unpromising soil Christianity took early root, the Jews having prepared the way. Its copper mines in the mountains were once farmed to Herod the Great; hence, the number of Jews on the island was natural. Barnabas was born there, and "being a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith" was keen to impart to his countrymen that gospel which he so much loved (Acts 4:36). Moreover those scattered abroad in the persecution whereby Stephen suffered "traveled as far as Cyprus, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only." Some of the men of Cyprus too preached the Lord Jesus to the Greeks effectually at Antioch (Acts 11:19-20). Moreover, when Barnabas and Paul were there "separated for the Lord's work" by the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:1-13), Cyprus was their first destination. With John Mark as their minister they preached in the Jews' synagogue at Salamis; and then passing by the Roman road to Paphos, the proconsular residence in the W., at his request they preached before Sergius Paulus the "proconsul," KJV "deputy." A delicate mark of truth. Cyprus had been an imperial province, and governed by the emperor's "lieutenants"; but the emperor transferred it to the senate, and so Luke accurately designates its governor, as under the senate, "proconsul," anthupatos (Dion Cassius, 53:12; 54:4). Coins and inscriptions confirm this (one on the lintel of a doorway with the name of the very officer referred to by Luke, confuting Beza's doubt). Elymas or Barjesus, a sorcerer and false prophet, a Jew, withstood Paul and Barnabas, "seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith"; but on his being struck with blindness at Paul's word the deputy was astonished and believed. Barnabas visited his native island again, with his nephew Mark, when Paul had refused to allow Mark's attendance because of his former departure from them from Pamphylia, instead of going forward with them to the work (Acts 15:36-39). Mnason, "an old disciple" of Cyprus, is mentioned in Acts 21:16 as the appointed entertainer of Paul at Jerusalem. In sailing from Rhodes and Patara Paul's ship "sighted" Cyprus, leaving it on the left in going to Phoenicia (Acts 21:3). In sailing from Sidon on their way to Rome they went N. of it, to be under lee of land, and to take advantage of the current, which flows northward along Phoenicia and westward along Cilicia (Acts 27:4).