Greek word · G3974
Πάφος
paphos
Paphos
Two places shared this name. Old Paphos (Palaipaphos) held the ancient and famous sanctuary of Aphrodite, said to be where the goddess came ashore. New Paphos, about 15 km (10 miles) away, was a harbour city and became the Roman capital of Cyprus.
Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·
What it means
From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).
In depth
- Range of meaning
Two places shared this name. Old Paphos (Palaipaphos) held the ancient and famous sanctuary of Aphrodite, said to be where the goddess came ashore. New Paphos, about 15 km (10 miles) away, was a harbour city and became the Roman capital of Cyprus.
- Against the English
Translations just say 'Paphos'. Without background, a modern reader does not know this was the seat of Roman government on the island.
- Used elsewhere in the period
Strabo (Geography 14.6.3) describes both Paphoses and the yearly procession from the new city to Aphrodite's temple. Cyprus became a senatorial province, governed by a proconsul, in 22 BC (Dio Cassius 54.4). Luke's title 'proconsul' (v. 7) is therefore correct for the period.
Where it appears
Acts · 2
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Acts 13:6 Πάφου Paphos
They traveled through the whole island as far as Paphos, where they found a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus,
Here: New Paphos, the Roman capital of Cyprus and the proconsul's seat, near the old and famous shrine of Aphrodite at Old Paphos.
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Acts 13:13 Πάφου Paphos
After setting sail from Paphos, Paul and his companions came to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.