Sergius Paulus
Summary
The Roman proconsul of Cyprus who became a convert through the preaching of Paul and Barnabas, being described as an intelligent man who sought the truth.
☩Character and Position
Sergius Paulus held the office of proconsul in Cyprus when Paul and Barnabas visited the island on their first missionary journey in AD 44. Luke describes him as a 'prudent' or 'intelligent' man—one with a large and liberal mind, of an inquiring turn who sought truth from various sources. This characteristic led him both to entertain the Jewish sorcerer Elymas and to summon Barnabas and Paul to hear the word of God.
☩Conversion
When Elymas the sorcerer opposed Paul and tried to turn Sergius Paulus from the faith, Paul pronounced divine judgment upon him, and Elymas was struck blind. Upon witnessing this miracle and hearing the teaching, the proconsul believed, 'being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.' His conversion represents one of the early significant Gentile conversions in Acts.
☩Historical Evidence
External evidence supports the biblical account. A Sergius Paulus is mentioned in the Index of Authors to Pliny's Natural History as an authority on information about Cyprus. A Greek inscription from the north coast of Cyprus is dated 'in the pro-consulship of Paulus,' probably the same governor.
Related Verses1 mention
Acts· 1 verse
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Sergius Paulus," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IX (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Sergius Paulus," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Sergius Paulus," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 4.James Hastings (ed.), "Sergius Paulus," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).