Cyprus played a significant role in the early spread of the gospel in the book of Acts, both through its people and its place in missionary history. After the persecution that followed Stephen’s death, believers scattered and began preaching the gospel beyond Jewish communities. Among them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene who traveled to Antioch and boldly preached to Greeks as well (Acts 11:19–21). Their efforts helped establish the church in Antioch, which quickly became a vital center of early Christianity.
It was from this church that the Holy Spirit called Paul and Barnabas—Barnabas himself being a native of Cyprus (Acts 4:36)—to begin the first missionary journey (Acts 13:1–3). Appropriately, their journey began in Cyprus, where they preached across the island from Salamis to Paphos, ultimately converting the Roman proconsul Sergius Paulus after confronting the sorcerer Elymas (Acts 13:4–12). This event marked a turning point, as it was the first recorded conversion of a Roman official and demonstrated the gospel’s power over pagan influence. In both its people and its geography, Cyprus played a foundational role in launching the global mission of the church.
