Lucius[1] Sergius Paulus or Paullus was a Proconsul of Cyprus under Claudius (1st century AD). He appears in Acts 13:6-12, where in Paphos, Paul, accompanied by Barnabas and John Mark, overcame the attempts of Bar-Jesus (Elymas) "to turn the proconsul away from the faith" and converted Sergius to Christianity.
A boundary stone of Claudius mentioning Sergius was discovered at Rome in 1887.[2] It records the appointment (AD 47) of the Curators of the banks and the channel of the river Tiber, one of whom was Sergius. Since Paul's journey to Cyprus is usually dated to the first half of the 40s (and some scholars date his visit even earlier), it is thought Sergius may have first served three years as Proconsul at Cyprus, then returned to Rome, where he was appointed curator.[3] Another inscription was discovered in 1887 at Soli, Cyprus, by Luigi Palma di Cesnola which mentions a proconsul Paulus.[4] This inscription was dated to the middle of the first century by D.G. Hogarth.[5]Terence Mitford noted that based on epigraphic grounds the inscription cannot be dated earlier than this and is probably considerably later.[6] As he is not greeted in Paul's Epistle to the Romans, it is possible he died before it was written.[2]
Writing in the fourth century, Jerome speculated that Saul of Tarsus had been renamed Paul (Paulus) because he had converted Sergius Paulus to Christianity: "For as Scipio assumed the name of Africanus for himself when Africa was subjugated...so also Saulus, who was sent to preach to the nations, brought back from the initial spoils of the church, the proconsul Sergius Paulus, the trophy of his victory, and he raised a standard so that he was called Paulus."[7]
Some medieval legends have anachronistically identified Sergius Paulus with Paul of Narbonne.
^"In passing, it may be noted that it is far from certain that the Sergius Paulus of the Acts bore the praenomen Lucius. One L. Sergius Paulus was under Claudius curator alvei Tiberis and therefore an ex-consul (Dessau, 5926). That he is to be identified with the proconsul of Cyprus is at best a conjecture, now somewhat weakened by Myres' reading of IGR iii, 935." T. B. Mitford, "Notes on Some Published Inscriptions of Roman Cyprus" Annals of the British School at Athens, 42 (1947), p. 206 n. 22
^However, Jack P. Lewis, Historical Backgrounds of Bible History (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1971), 153, suggests that Sergius held the curatorship of the Tiber before going to Cyprus.
^di Cesnola, Luigi Palma (1877). Cyprus: It's Ancient Cities, Tombs, and Temples. John Murray. p. 229.
^Hogarth, D.G. (1889). Devia Cypria. Henry Frowde. p. 115.
^Scheck, Thomas P. (2010). St. Jerome's Commentaries on Galatians, Titus, and Philemon. Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press. p. 358.
^Anthony Wagner, Pedigree and Progress, Essays in the Genealogical Interpretation of History, London, Philmore, 1975. Rutgers Alex CS4.W33., p. 59
January 18, 2023
sergius, paulus, lucius, paullus, proconsul, cyprus, under, claudius, century, appears, acts, where, paphos, paul, accompanied, barnabas, john, mark, overcame, attempts, jesus, elymas, turn, proconsul, away, from, faith, converted, sergius, christianity, elyma. Lucius 1 Sergius Paulus or Paullus was a Proconsul of Cyprus under Claudius 1st century AD He appears in Acts 13 6 12 where in Paphos Paul accompanied by Barnabas and John Mark overcame the attempts of Bar Jesus Elymas to turn the proconsul away from the faith and converted Sergius to Christianity Elymas the sorcerer is struck blind before Sergius Paulus Painting by Raphael from the Raphael Cartoons A boundary stone of Claudius mentioning Sergius was discovered at Rome in 1887 2 It records the appointment AD 47 of the Curators of the banks and the channel of the river Tiber one of whom was Sergius Since Paul s journey to Cyprus is usually dated to the first half of the 40s and some scholars date his visit even earlier it is thought Sergius may have first served three years as Proconsul at Cyprus then returned to Rome where he was appointed curator 3 Another inscription was discovered in 1887 at Soli Cyprus by Luigi Palma di Cesnola which mentions a proconsul Paulus 4 This inscription was dated to the middle of the first century by D G Hogarth 5 Terence Mitford noted that based on epigraphic grounds the inscription cannot be dated earlier than this and is probably considerably later 6 As he is not greeted in Paul s Epistle to the Romans it is possible he died before it was written 2 Writing in the fourth century Jerome speculated that Saul of Tarsus had been renamed Paul Paulus because he had converted Sergius Paulus to Christianity For as Scipio assumed the name of Africanus for himself when Africa was subjugated so also Saulus who was sent to preach to the nations brought back from the initial spoils of the church the proconsul Sergius Paulus the trophy of his victory and he raised a standard so that he was called Paulus 7 Some medieval legends have anachronistically identified Sergius Paulus with Paul of Narbonne Sergius Paulus may have been the first of several successive senators named Lucius Sergius Paullus of Antioch Pisidia including one who was consul suffectus c 70 and another who was twice consul Lucius Sergius Paullus the father of Sergia Paulla who married Quintus Anicius Faustus Legate of Numidia in 198 and had Quintus Anicius Faustus Paulinus governor of Moesia Inferior between 229 and 232 8 References Edit In passing it may be noted that it is far from certain that the Sergius Paulus of the Acts bore the praenomen Lucius One L Sergius Paulus was under Claudius curator alvei Tiberis and therefore an ex consul Dessau 5926 That he is to be identified with the proconsul of Cyprus is at best a conjecture now somewhat weakened by Myres reading of IGR iii 935 T B Mitford Notes on Some Published Inscriptions of Roman Cyprus Annals of the British School at Athens 42 1947 p 206 n 22 a b Sergius Paulus Easton s Bible Dictionary However Jack P Lewis Historical Backgrounds of Bible History Grand Rapids Baker Book House 1971 153 suggests that Sergius held the curatorship of the Tiber before going to Cyprus di Cesnola Luigi Palma 1877 Cyprus It s Ancient Cities Tombs and Temples John Murray p 229 Hogarth D G 1889 Devia Cypria Henry Frowde p 115 Mitford Some Published Inscriptions p 205 Scheck Thomas P 2010 St Jerome s Commentaries on Galatians Titus and Philemon Notre Dame IN University of Notre Dame Press p 358 Anthony Wagner Pedigree and Progress Essays in the Genealogical Interpretation of History London Philmore 1975 Rutgers Alex CS4 W33 p 59 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sergius Paulus amp oldid 1131319318, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
