Places visited

Barnabas and Saul, who departed from Antioch, headed towards the island of Cyprus. The places they visited are as follows: (1) Antioch (Acts 13:1-3), (2) Seleucia (Acts 13:4), (3) Salamis on the island of Cyprus (Acts 13:5), (4) Paphos on the island of Cyprus (Acts 13:6-12).

From Seleucia to Cyprus

“So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus.” Here, Luke emphasizes the leadership of the Holy Spirit. The missionary journey begins by the prompting of the Holy Spirit and is carried forward by His guidance. Acts 13:2 states, “While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set Barnabas and Saul apart for Me for the work to which I have called them.’” Ultimately, it was the Holy Spirit who sent out Barnabas and Saul. The two men went down from Antioch to Seleucia, a port town located about 16 miles (25 km) west of Antioch. In this port town, they booked a passage on a ship bound for Cyprus and made their way to the island. While the exact reason for choosing Cyprus as their first mission field is not explicitly stated, there are several plausible reasons. (1) Cyprus was Barnabas’ hometown. Barnabas was a Levite born on the island of Cyprus and was familiar with its geography and customs. For him, this mission was like returning to his home to share the Gospel. (2) Cyprus had a significant Jewish community. In towns with Jewish communities, there was always a synagogue. Visiting the synagogue provided an opportunity to speak to both Jews and God-fearing Gentiles. The principle of the Holy Spirit starting the evangelism and advancing through by His guidance remains active today. Those who recognize the work of the Holy Spirit when given the opportunity for evangelism are truly blessed. In the heart of a born-again believer, is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Let us walk each day while listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit.