In Acts 13:7 Paul met with Sergius Paulus who Luke says was the Governor on the island of Cyprus. Skeptics and critics have doubted the historical accuracy of Luke's record in Acts, but six things proved the accuracy of Luke's document.
First, historical evidence shows that after 22 BC Cyprus was a senatorial province governed by a proconsul
(Gr - anthupatos).
Second, an inscription found in northern Cyprus from the time of Luke and Paul says in a blue marble slab:
[CLAUD]IUS CAESAR SABASTOA
[Q]UINTUS SER[GIUS PAULUS]
(Details here; image here)
Third, an additional inscription with the family name of "Sergii Paulli" was found in 1912 in Pisidain Antioch. This family had large estates near Pisidian Antioch, which was Paul's next stop after Cyprus.
(Details here. image here)
Four, a boundary stone was found in Rome in 1887 which had been set up by Emperor Claudius Caesar listing the names of leaders in charge of supervision of the Tiber River. L. Sergius Paullus is mentioned again:
"...L.SERGIUS PAULLUS...CURATORS OF THE RIVER TIBERIS...CLAUDIUS CAESAR..."
Fifth, Pliny the Elder refers to Sergius Paulus in his writings on "Natural History," while also mentioning that the island of Cyprus was filled with praticioners of sorcery.
(Details here.)
Sixth, in 1877 an inscription from around 54 AD that includes the phrase "the proconsul Paulus" was found north of Paphos in the city of Silo. (The full inscription is here.) |
