There are seven specific ways God used the Cypriots to bless the Body in the first century and will again in these end times.

Encouragers & Providers Acts 4:36

Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement) sold a tract of land and brought the proceeds to the apostles.

God used the wealth and generosity of a Cypriot to bless and encourage the Body.

This gift must have been enormous for the writer of Acts to mention it specifically.

Pray that the Lord will impart the Barnabas anointing to the believers in Cyprus, for those who would encourage the Body.

Pray that the Lord will restore the spiritual identity of the Cypriots. (Kittim means Beloved. However, from ancient history, Cyprus was known as the island of Aphrodite, the goddess of Eros and beauty. Therefore, the name Cyprus (or Kypra in Roman) is a corrupted identity).

Haven & Shelter for Persecuted Believers

Acts 11:19

Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews.

After the stoning of Stephen (Acts 8), the believers were scattered and one of the first destinations they were led to was Cyprus.

The Cypriots received persecuted believers.

Pray that the Prince of Peace will intervene as we worship and intercede for Cyprus, and will bring about the destruction of theso called “green” dividing line and unify all of Cyprus, Greek and Turk coming together, and the Name of the Lord lifted up and glorified in all of Cyprus.

Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

Cyprus was instrumental in spreading the gospel to Antioch, and most particularly, to the Gentiles. Even after Peter’s vision and experience with Cornelius, the gospel was still preached only to Jews.

God used the Cypriots to break the tradition and pioneer a new work.

Pioneers Breaking New Ground

Acts 11:20-21

Pray that the wells of salvation dug by Paul, Barnabas and others, will spring up anew in Cyprus.

In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.

While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.

Barnabas was one of the Cypriots who traveled to Antioch to spread the Word. He was set apart by the Lord to accompany Saul on his first missionary journey from Antioch. Their first destination brought Barnabas back to Cyprus, which was an established Missions base

Missions Outpost & Training Centre

Acts 13:1-4

Pray for revival to come to Cyprus with the power of God in healing and miracles.

Pray blessing and healing over the nation of Cyprus.

Strengthen & Build Up the Body

Acts 15:36

Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.”

The second missionary journey also proceeded from Antioch. Although Paul and Barnabas traveled with separate companions, their purpose was to strengthen and build up the Body in all the churches they planted on their first mission. Barnabas and Mark sailed to Cyprus, while Paul and Silas went to Syria.

Pray for the Orthodox Church – An ancient well of salvation.

Pray for unity in the churches of Cyprus.

HospitalityActs 21:16

Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us and brought us to the home of Mnason, where we were to stay. He was a man from Cyprus and one of the early disciples.

Mnason, a Cypriot disciple, provided lodging for Paul and some of the disciples in Jerusalem. Mnason was an early disciple, indicating Cyprus was well connected with Jerusalem from the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and that some disciples had responded to a call to move to Jerusalem and serve the Lord there.

Defenders of Israel Numbers 24:24

“Ships will come from the shores of Kittim; they will subdue Asshur and Eber, but they too will come to ruin.” Daniel 11:29-30 “At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from what it was before. Ships of the western coastlands will oppose him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and vent his fury against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant.”

Most exciting, there is a purpose for the nation of Cyprus with respect to Israel that is yet to be fulfilled. Cyprus is also referred to as Kittim in the Scriptures. The Bible speaks of ships from Kittim coming against the enemies of Israel or discouraging the enemies of Israel.

Pray for God to withhold His judgment, and for His mercy to prevail over judgment, because of His great name and for His names sake and because of the plans He has for this island, to open the floodgates of heaven and to pour out His Spirit and His fire on this nation.

The Barnabas Anointing

When Saul became a believer, most of the disciples were afraid of him and would not associate with him. But Barnabas, the Cypriot Levite, saw what the Lord was doing and brought Saul to the apostles so that he could become connected with the Body.

Barnabas also looked after the spiritual well being of Saul. When Barnabas was sent to Antioch from Jerusalem (Acts 11:22) to witness the work of God and encourage the saints, he afterwards left for Tarsus to look for Saul and eventually brought him to Antioch to minister with him.

The Barnabas AnointingThere is a Barnabas ministry, a Barnabas anointing to see what God is doing, respond in faith, and enable new believers who are either rejected by frightened believers or fleeing persecution to become integrated into the Body, even to mentor them and raise them up as leaders.

Barnabas saw Saul through the eyes of faith, accepted him, and was instrumental in raising up the greatest apostle who ever lived. Barnabas took a risk to accept Saul. He also suffered persecution along with Saul on their first missionary trip.

The blessing of the Barnabas anointing is to witness abundant fruit from the willingness to risk and trust new believers. The danger of the Barnabas anointing is to become entangled in legalism (as Barnabas did for a season – Galatians 2:13) in the midst of associating and ministering to Orthodox Messianic believers.

Genesis 10:4

1 Chronicles 1:7

Numbers 24:24Isaiah 23:1

Isaiah 23:12Jeremiah 2:10

Ezekiel 27:6

Daniel 11:30Acts 4:36

Acts 11:19Acts 11:20

Acts 13:4

Acts 15:39Acts 21:3

Acts 21:16Acts 27:4

Cyprus in Scripture

Genesis 10:4

1 Chronicles 1:7

Numbers 24:24Isaiah 23:1

Isaiah 23:12Jeremiah 2:10

Ezekiel 27:6

Daniel 11:30Acts 4:36

Acts 11:19Acts 11:20

Acts 13:4

Acts 15:39Acts 21:3

Acts 21:16Acts 27:4

Cyprus in Scripture

When we had put to sea from there, we sailed under the shelter of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.

-Acts 27:4

Images copyrighted by Marissa Horn and Gwen Pagent