Topical Encyclopedia
Introduction:Sergius Paulus is a notable figure mentioned in the New Testament, specifically in the Acts of the Apostles. He was a Roman proconsul of Cyprus during the first missionary journey of the Apostle Paul and Barnabas. His encounter with these early Christian missionaries is significant for its demonstration of the power of the Gospel and the authority of the apostolic mission.
Biblical Account:The account of Sergius Paulus is found in
Acts 13:4-12. Paul and Barnabas, having been sent out by the Holy Spirit, traveled to Cyprus and proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They eventually reached Paphos, where they encountered Sergius Paulus, described as "an intelligent man" (
Acts 13:7). Sergius Paulus summoned Paul and Barnabas because he desired to hear the word of God.
Opposition from Elymas:During their visit, Paul and Barnabas faced opposition from a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, also known as Elymas. Elymas sought to turn the proconsul away from the faith. The confrontation between Paul and Elymas is a pivotal moment, showcasing the spiritual battle between truth and deception. Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, rebuked Elymas, saying, "You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?" (
Acts 13:10). Consequently, Elymas was struck with blindness, a divine judgment that underscored the authority of the apostolic message.
Conversion of Sergius Paulus:Witnessing the power of God through the blinding of Elymas, Sergius Paulus was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.
Acts 13:12 records, "When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord." This conversion is significant as it marks one of the first recorded instances of a Roman official embracing the Christian faith, highlighting the Gospel's reach beyond Jewish communities to the Gentile world.
Historical and Cultural Context:Sergius Paulus served as the proconsul of Cyprus, a position of considerable authority within the Roman provincial system. The title "proconsul" indicates that Cyprus was a senatorial province, governed by a proconsul appointed by the Roman Senate. The conversion of such a high-ranking official would have had substantial implications for the spread of Christianity, as it demonstrated the faith's appeal to individuals of influence and intellect within the Roman Empire.
Significance in Early Christianity:The account of Sergius Paulus underscores the transformative power of the Gospel and the authority of the apostolic mission. It illustrates the early Church's expansion into Gentile territories and the overcoming of spiritual opposition through divine intervention. Sergius Paulus's conversion serves as a testament to the effectiveness of the apostolic witness and the work of the Holy Spirit in drawing individuals to faith in Christ.
Conclusion:While the Bible does not provide further details about Sergius Paulus's life after his conversion, his encounter with Paul and Barnabas remains a powerful example of the Gospel's reach and the early Church's mission to proclaim Christ to all nations.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Sergiusnet
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Sergius Paulus
A "prudent man" (R.V., "man of understanding"), the deputy (R.V., "proconsul") of Cyprus (Acts 13:6-13). He became a convert to Christianity under Paul, who visited this island on his first mission to the heathen.
A remarkable memorial of this proconsul was recently (1887) discovered at Rome. On a boundary stone of Claudius his name is found, among others, as having been appointed (A.D. 47) one of the curators of the banks and the channel of the river Tiber. After serving his three years as proconsul at Cyprus, he returned to Rome, where he held the office referred to. As he is not saluted in Paul's letter to the Romans, he probably died before it was written.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PAULUS, SERGIUSpo'-lus, sur'-ji-us (Sergios Paulos): The Roman "proconsul" (Revised Version) or "deputy" (the King James Version) of Cyprus when Paul, along with Barnabas, visited that island on his first missionary journey (Acts 13:4, 7). The official title of Sergius is accurately given in Acts. Cyprus was originally an imperial province, but in 22 B.C. it was transferred by Augustus to the Senate, and was therefore placed under the administration of proconsuls, as is attested by extant Cyprian coins of the period. When the two missionaries arrived at Paphos, Sergius, who was a "prudent man" (the King James Version) or "man of understanding" (Revised Version), i.e. a man of practical understanding, "sought to hear the word of God" (Acts 13:7). Bar-Jesus, or Elymas, a sorcerer at the court of Sergius, fearing the influence of the apostles, sought, however, "to turn aside the proconsul from the faith," but was struck with blindness (Acts 13:8-11); and the deputy, "when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord" (Acts 13:12). The narrative indicates that not only the miracle but also the attention with which Sergius listened to the teaching of Paul (compareActs 13:7) conduced to his conversion (Bengel). Attempts have been made to trace some connection between the name Sergius Paulus and the fact that Saul is first called Paul inActs 13:9, but the joint occurrence of the two names is probably to be set down as only a coincidence.
C. M. Kerr
SERGIUS PAULUS
sur'-ji-us po'-lus.
SeePAULUS, SERGIUS.
Greek
4588. Sergios --Sergius, a Roman proconsul of Cyprus...Sergius, a Roman proconsul of Cyprus. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
Sergios Phonetic Spelling: (serg'-ee-os) Short Definition:
Sergius...4588a. Sergios --Sergius, a Roman proconsul of Cyprus
... Sergios. 4588b .Sergius, a Roman proconsul of Cyprus. Transliteration: Sergios
Short Definition:Sergius. Word Origin of Latin origin DefinitionSergius, a Rom...
3972. Paulos -- (Sergius) Paulus (a Roman proconsul), also Paul...
... (Sergius... Word Origin of Latin origin Definition (Sergius) Paulus (a Rom. proconsul),
also Paul (an apostle) NASB Word Usage Paul (152), Paul's (5), Paulus (1)....
Library
Epistle Lxxx. Cyprian toSergius, Rogatianus, and the Other...
... Epistle LXXX. Cyprian toSergius, Rogatianus, and the Other Confessors in
Prison. Argument."He Consoles Rogatianus and His Colleagues...
The Sentence against the Monothelites.
... The holy council said: After we had reconsidered, according to our promise which
we had made to your highness, the doctrinal letters ofSergius, at one time...
Principal Works on Dionysius the Areopagite.
... Translations. Syriac.Sergius of Ras'ain, AD530. B. Mus. Add.12151-2, 22370. Latin....
Joseph Huzaja. Phocas, bar.Sergius of Edessa. John, Bishop of Dara....
How Caedwalla, King of the West Saxons, Went to Rome to be...
... For coming to Rome, at the time thatSergius was pope, he was baptized on the Holy
Saturday before Easter Day, in the year of our Lord 689, and being still in...
Roman Catholics.
... Conon. 686. Theodore and Pascan, antipopes. 687.Sergius. 701. John 6.br>705. John
7.br>708.... Valentinus. 828. Gregory IV. 844.Sergius II. 847. Leo IV. 855....
Acts XIII
... through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a certain magician, a false
prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, (7) who was withSergius Paulus the...
Heralds of the Gospel
... isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name
was Bar-Jesus: which was with the deputy of the country,Sergius Paulus, a...
How the Venerable Suidbert in Britain, and Wilbrord at Rome, were...
... Frisland, as soon as Wilbrord found that he had leave given him by the prince to
preach there, he made haste to go to Rome, where PopeSergius then presided...
Extracts from the Acts. Session I.
... the Orthodox faith, have been introduced by those who were at several times bishops
of this, your royal and God-preserved city, to wit:Sergius, Paul, Pyrrhus...
Imperial Caesar
... "Well done,Sergius! A samnos of wine for your company to-night for this.". The
decurion saluted.... "How many killed and wounded,Sergius?" the tribune asked....
Thesaurus
Sergius (1 Occurrence)... Easton's Bible Dictionary
Sergius Paulus. A "prudent man" (RV
... was written.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. PAULUS,
SERGIUS. po'-lus
...Paulus (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible DictionarySergius Paulus. A "prudent man" (RV... was written.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. PAULUS,SERGIUS. po'-lus...
Bar-jesus (1 Occurrence)
... zus (Bariesous): "A certain sorcerer (Greek magos), a false prophet, a Jew" whom
Paul and Silas found at Paphos in Cyprus in the train ofSergius Paulus, the...
Barjesus (1 Occurrence)
... zus (Bariesous): "A certain sorcerer (Greek magos), a false prophet, a Jew" whom
Paul and Silas found at Paphos in Cyprus in the train ofSergius Paulus, the...
Keen (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Keen (3 Occurrences). Acts 13:7 who was a friend of the
ProconsulSergius Paulus. The Proconsul was a man of keen intelligence....
Intelligent (47 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Acts 13:7 who was with the proconsulSergius Paulus, an intelligent man.
He, having called Barnabas and Saul to him, desired to hear the word of God....
Intelligence (45 Occurrences)
... He gave. (WEY). Acts 13:7 who was a friend of the ProconsulSergius Paulus.
The Proconsul was a man of keen intelligence. He sent...
Desiring (108 Occurrences)
... (See NAS). Acts 13:7 Who was with the ruler,Sergius Paulus, an able man. This man
sent for Barnabas and Saul, desiring to have knowledge of the word of God....
Deputy (7 Occurrences)
... Acts 13:7 Which was with the deputy of the country,Sergius Paulus, a prudent man;
who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God....
Manius
... Perhaps ManiusSergius is intended, who with C. Sulpicius was sent to investigate
the state of Greece and to see what Antiochus Epiphanes and Eumanes were...
Resources
Who was Bar-Jesus in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat happened on Paul's first missionary journey? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the significance of Cyprus in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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