CYPRUS, a famous Island in the Mediterranean, and the largest in this Sea; it is situated between Cilicia and Syria: Its Inhabitants were plunged in all manner of Luxury and Debauchery.1 Their principal Deity was Venus. The Apostles Paul and Barnabas departed from Antioch, imbarked at Seleucia, and landed in the Isle of Cyprus. While they continued at Salamis, they preached Jesus Christ in the Acts xiii. 4, 5, 6, &c.Jewish Synagogues; and from thence they went and visited all the Cities in the Island, preaching every where the Gospel: while they were at Paphos, they found there a false Prophet, whose name was Bar-Jesus, who was with Sergius Paulus, the Pro-Consul or Governor of the Island. From him S. Paul met with opposition in his preaching, and by him the Pro-Consul was dissuaded from believing in Christ Jesus. But S. Paul struck him with Blindness; and the Pro-Consul touched with this In the year of J. C. 44. Acts xx. 39.Miracle, embraced Christianity.
Some time after, S. Barnabas went again into this Island with John sirnamed Mark in his company. He is considered as the principal Apostle, and first Bishop of Cyprus. It is said, that he suffered Martyrdom there, being stoned to death by the Jews of Salamis;2 and that his Body was found there in the Emperor Zeno’s reign3, with S. Matthew’s Gospel on his Breast, which S. Barnabas had copied with his own hand.
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