Bible Dictionaries

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Paphos

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.