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paphos Summary and Overview

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paphos in Easton's Bible Dictionary

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.

paphos in Smith's Bible Dictionary

(boiling, or hot), a town at the west end of Cyprus, connected by a react with Salamis at the east end. It was founded B.C. 1184 (during the period of the judges in Israel). Paul and Barnabas travelled, on their first missionary expedition, "through the isle" from the latter place to the former, #Ac 13:6| The great characteristic of Paphos was the worship of Aphrodite or Venus, who was fabled to have here risen from the sea. Her temple, however, was at "Old Paphos" now called Kuklia. The harbor and the chief town were at "New Paphos," ten miles to the northwest. The place is still called Baffa.

paphos in Schaff's Bible Dictionary

PA'PHOS (boiling, or hot), a town in the western end of Cyprus. There were two towns of this name - old Paphos, or Paphos of the poets, situated on a height about 2 miles from the sea, and new Paphos, on the seashore, about 10 miles to the north-west of the old town. It was founded b.c. 1184. Paul and Barnabas visited it, and the Roman governor was converted. Acts 13:6-11. At the old town there was a famous temple dedicated to Venus, which was visited annually by great numbers of heathen pilgrims. There are still extensive ruins and catacombs on its site. Not long before the visit of Paul and Barnabas the new town had been destroyed by an earthquake. Augustus rebuilt it, and it became famous from its shrine and from the worship of Venus. Mingled with the ruins of palaces and churches are the poor dwellings and hovels of the Greek and Mohammedan inhabitants. The harbor is now nearly filled up. The modern name of the town is Baffa.

paphos in Fausset's Bible Dictionary

A town in the western end of Cyprus, as Salamis was in the E. Paul passed through the isle from Salamis to Paphos (Acts 13:6-13.) Here Barnabas and Saul were instrumental in converting Sergius Paulus the proconsul, in spite of Elymas' opposition. (See ELYMAS.) Saul is here called Paul when "filled with the Holy Spirit" he inflicted blindness from "the hand of the Lord" upon the sorcerer, and thenceforth became more prominent than Barnabas. Here Aphrodite or Venus was said to have risen from the foam of the sea. The harbor and town were at new Paphos, her temple at old Paphos.