Province in Asia Minor; Paul's birthplace and ministry area
Cilicia
Named in 8 verses across 2 books, first in Acts 6:9.
Κιλικία, ΚιλικίαCilicia
The name means “which rolls or overturns.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869
About Cilicia Written by AI
Cilicia was a province located in the southeastern region of Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey. It was bounded by the Taurus Mountains to the north, separating it from Cappadocia, Lycaonia, and Isauria, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, Syria to the east, and Pamphylia to the west. In the New Testament, Cilicia is mentioned several times in connection with the apostle Paul. Paul was born in Tarsus, one of the chief cities of Cilicia (Act.21.39; 22:3). After his conversion, Paul spent some time in Cilicia (Galatians 1:21; Act.9.30) and later revisited the region during his second missionary journey, strengthening the churches (Act.15.41). Cilicia had a significant Jewish population, and the synagogue of the Cilicians in Jerusalem was among those who disputed with Stephen (Act.6.9). The early Christian church spread to Cilicia, as evidenced by the letter addressed to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia (Act.15.23). Geographically, Cilicia was an important region, serving as a major trade route between Syria and the west. The Cilician Gates, a mountain pass through the Taurus Mountains, was a strategic point of travel and was likely used by Paul and Barnabas during their missionary journeys (Act.15.41).
Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897
A maritime province in the south-east of Asia Minor. Tarsus, the birth-place of Paul, was one of its chief towns, and the seat of a celebrated school of philosophy. Its luxurious climate attracted to it many Greek residents after its incorporation with the Macedonian empire. It was formed into a Roman province, B.C. 67. The Jews of Cilicia had a synagogue at Jerusalem (Acts 6:9). Paul visited it soon after his conversion (Gal. 1:21; Acts 9:30), and again, on his second missionary journey (15:41), “he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.” It was famous for its goat’s-hair cloth, called cilicium. Paul learned in his youth the trade of making tents of this cloth.
M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.
36.918, 34.892 See it on a map
Where the Bible names it
- Acts 6:9
But resistance arose from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and men from the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. They disputed with Stephen,
- Acts 15:23
and sent them with this letter: The apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.
- Acts 15:41
And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
- Acts 21:39
But Paul answered, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Now I beg you to allow me to speak to the people.”
- Acts 22:3
“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the law of our fathers. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.
- Acts 23:34
The governor read the letter and asked what province Paul was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,
- Acts 27:5
And when we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia.
- Galatians 1:21
Later I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.