Cyprus

How Nave’s arranged it

• An islandActs 21:3Acts 27:4
• Barnabas born inActs 4:36
• Preaching the gospel atActs 11:19Acts 11:20
• Visited by Barnabas and SaulActs 13:4–12
• Barnabas and Mark visitActs 15:39
• Mnason, a disciple ofActs 21:16

The passages, in Bible order (8)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 8 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Acts 4:36

   Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement),

   ›Commentary on Acts 4:362 voices

   “Barnabas means, 'Son of a prophet', or 'son of one coming', or, as many think, son of consolation. All the derivations, as 'Bar' (son of) either 'Nabi' (a prophet), or a derivative from 'Bo' (to come) or from 'Bee' (to console), as by the Syriac interpreter it is also rendered, 'Son of consolation.'

   “Joses - Or, Joseph, as many excellent MSS. read; but who he was, farther than what is here said, we know not. Surnamed Barnabas - Or, Barsabbas, according to the Coptic. The son of consolation - Υἱος παρακλησεως; As παρακλησις signifies exhortation, as well as consolation, and is indeed distinguished from the latter, 1Co 14:3, the original name was probably בר נבא Bar naba, or בר נביא Bar nebia, which signifies the son of prophecy or exhortation; and this is certainly one sense which prophecy has in the New Testament; and in this way Barnabas distinguished himself among the apostles.

   Everything gathered on Acts 4:36→

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2. Acts 11:19

   Meanwhile those scattered by the persecution that began with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message only to Jews.

   ›Commentary on Acts 11:192 voices

   “Now they which were scattered abroad,.... These were not the apostles, but the other ministers of the word; see Act 8:1 who were dispersed upon the persecution that arose about Stephen; his preaching and miracles, his oration in defence of himself, and his death: these travelled as far as Phenice; a country near to Syria and Galilee; its chief towns and cities were Tripolis, Botrys, Biblus, Berytus, Tyre, Sidon, Ecdippa, Ptolemais, and Dora. It was famous, as Pliny says (x), for the invention of letters, and of the constellations, and of naval and warlike arts.

   “Now they ... - This verse introduces a new train of historical remark; and from this point the course of the history of the Acts of the Apostles takes a new direction. Thus far, the history had recorded chiefly the preaching of the gospel to the Jews. From this point the history records the efforts made to convert the Gentiles.

   Everything gathered on Acts 11:19→

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3. Acts 11:20

   But some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks as well, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus.

   ›Commentary on Acts 11:202 voices

   "They spoke to the Greeks." Perhaps they were called Greeks because they did not know Hebrew.

   “Men of - Cyrene - The metropolis of the Cyrenaica; a country of Africa, bounded on the east by Marmarica, on the west by the Regio Syrtica, on the north by the Mediterranean, and on the south by the Sahara. Cyrene is now called Cairoan. This city, according to Eusebius, was built in the 37th Olympiad, about 630 years before Christ. In consequence of a revolt of its inhabitants, it was destroyed by the Romans; but they afterwards rebuilt it. It was for a long time subject to the Arabs, but is now in the hands of the Turks.

   Everything gathered on Acts 11:20→

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4. Acts 13:4–12

   So Barnabas and Saul, sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.

   ›Commentary on Acts 13:4–122 voices

   “Being sent forth by the Holy Ghost - By his influence, authority, and under his continual direction. Without the first, they were not qualified to go; without the second, they had no authority to go; and without the third, they could not know where to go. Departed, unto Seleucia - This is generally understood to be Seleucia of Pieria, the first city on the coast of Syria, coming from Cilicia; near the place where the river Orontes pours itself into the sea. They sailed to Cyprus - A well known island in the Mediterranean Sea. See on Act 4:36 (note).

   “They do not stop in Seleucia, knowing that its inhabitants could gain much benefit from the neighboring city, but hasten to fulfill what was urgent.

   Everything gathered on Acts 13:4–12→

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5. Acts 15:39

   Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,

   ›Commentary on Acts 15:392 voices

   “And the contention was so sharp - The word used here παροξυσμός paroxusmos is that from which our word “paroxysm” is derived. It may denote “any excitement of mind,” and is used in a good sense in Heb 10:24. It here means, however, “a violent altercation” that resulted in their separation for a time, and in their engaging in different spheres of labor. And sailed into Cyprus - This was the native place of Barnabas. See the notes on Act 4:36.

   "A sharp disagreement," he said, "arose," nor a love of conflict. Yet the sharp disagreement was such that it separated them from one another; and with the highest righteousness, which each considered to be beneficial, he later confirmed this by an act of sharing toward …

   Everything gathered on Acts 15:39→

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6. Acts 21:3

   After sighting Cyprus and passing south of it, we sailed on to Syria and landed at Tyre, where the ship was to unload its cargo.

   ›Commentary on Acts 21:32 voices

   "Having found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia." Perhaps this ship had its anchorage here, in Patara; and they, not finding a ship departing for Caesarea, but finding a ship sailing to Phoenicia, set out on it and left Cyprus and Syria to the side, …

   “And we sailed on to Cyprus and allowed Syria to remain. For the phrase "leaving it to port" is not simple, it has been said, but that they were in no hurry to approach Syria. So they came to Lycia, and leaving Cyprus, sailed to …

   Everything gathered on Acts 21:3→

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7. Acts 21:16

   Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us, and they took us to stay at the home of Mnason the Cypriot, an early disciple.

   ›Commentary on Acts 21:161 voice

   “And brought with them one Mnason, etc. - It is not very likely that they would bring a man with them with whom they were to lodge in Jerusalem; therefore, the text should perhaps be read as Bp. Patrick proposes: There went with us certain of the disciples of Caesarea, bringing us to one Mnason, with whom we were to lodge. This is most likely, as the text will bear this translation.

   Everything gathered on Acts 21:16→

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8. Acts 27:4

   After putting out from there, we sailed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us.

   ›Commentary on Acts 27:42 voices

   “And when we had launched from thence,.... From Sidon: we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary; that is, they sailed below the island of Cyprus; of which see Act 4:36 whereas if the wind had been right for them, they would have sailed above the island; leaving it on the right hand, in a straight course to Myra; but now they were obliged to go below it, leaving it on the left hand, going in part about it, through the seas of Cilicia and Pamphylia to Lycia, as follows.

   “We sailed under Cyprus - For an account of Cyprus, see the notes on Act 4:36. By sailing “under Cyprus” is meant that they sailed along its coasts; they kept near to it; they thus endeavored to break off the violent winds. Instead of steering a direct course in the open sea, which would have exposed them to violent opposing winds, they kept near this large island, so that it was between them and the westerly winds. The force of the wind was thus broken, and the voyage was rendered less difficult and dangerous.

   Everything gathered on Acts 27:4→

   Verse page →Original language →