Asia
In Bible versions:
Asia: NET AVS NIV NRSV NASB TEVA Roman province on the west side of Asia Minor.
(39° 13´, 32° 43´); Greek
Strongs #773: Asia Asia
Asia = "orient"1) Asia proper or proconsular Asia embracing Mysia, Lydia, Phrygia,
and Caria, corresponding closely to Turkey today
773 Asia as-ee'-ah
of uncertain derivation; Asia, i.e. Asia Minor, or (usually) only its western shore: KJV -- Asia.Asia [nave]
ASIAInhabitants of, in Jerusalem, at Pentecost, Acts 2:9; 21:27; 24:18.
Paul and Silas forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach in, Acts 16:6.
Gospel preached in, by Paul, Acts 19; 20:4.
Paul leaves, Acts 20:16.
Churches of, 1 Cor. 16:19; Rev. 1:4, 11.
Asia [ebd]
is used to denote Proconsular Asia, a Roman province which embraced the western parts of Asia Minor, and of which Ephesus was the capital, in Acts 2:9; 6:9; 16:6; 19:10,22; 20:4, 16, 18, etc., and probably Asia Minor in Acts 19:26, 27; 21:27; 24:18; 27:2. Proconsular Asia contained the seven churches of the Apocalypse (Rev. 1:11). The "chiefs of Asia" (Acts 19:31) were certain wealthy citizens who were annually elected to preside over the games and religious festivals of the several cities to which they belonged. Some of these "Asiarchs" were Paul's friends.
ASIA [smith]
(orient). The passages in the New Testament where this word occurs are the following; (Acts 2:9; 6:9; 16:6; 19:10,22,26,27; 20:4,16,18; 21:27; 27:2; Romans 16:5; 1Â Corinthians 16:19; 2Â Corinthians 1:8; 2Â Timothy 1:15; 1Â Peter 1:1; Revelation 1:4,11) In all these it may be confidently stated that the word is used for a Roman province which embraced the western part of the peninsula of Asia Minor and of which Ephesus was the capital.ASIA [isbe]
ASIA - a'-shi-a (Asia): A Roman province embracing the greater part of western Asia Minor, including the older countries of Mysia, Lydia, Caria, and a part of Phrygia, also several of the independent coast cities, the Troad, and apparently the islands of Lesbos, Samos, Patmos, Cos and others near the Asia Minor coast (Acts 16:6; 19:10,27). It is exceedingly difficult to determine the exact boundaries of the several countries which later constituted the Roman province, for they seem to have been somewhat vague to the ancients themselves, and were constantly shifting; it is therefore impossible to trace the exact borders of the province of Asia. Its history previous to 133 BC coincides with that of Asia Minor of which it was a part. However, in that year, Attalus III (Philometer), king of Pergamos, bequeathed his kingdom to the Roman Empire. It was not until 129 BC that the province of Asia was really formed by Rome. Its first capital was Pergamos, the old capital of Mysia, but in the time of Augustus, when Asia had become the most wealthy province of the Empire, the seat of the government was transferred to Ephesus. Smyrna was also an important rival of Ephesus. The governor of Asia was a pro-consul, chosen by lot by the Roman senate from among the former consuls who had been out of office for at least five years, and he seldom continued in office for more than a single year. The diet of the province, composed of representatives from its various districts, met each year in the different cities. Over it presided the asiarch, whose duty it was, among other things, to offer sacrifices for the welfare of the emperor and his family.In 285 AD the province was reduced in size, as Caria, Lydia, Mysia and Phrygia were separated from it, and apart from the cities of the coast little remained. The history of Asia consists almost entirely of the history of its important cities, which were Adramyttium, Assos, Cnidus, Ephesus, Laodicea, Miletus, Pergamos, Philadelphia, Sardis, Smyrna, Thyatira, Troas, etc.
E. J. Banks
ASIA [bridgeway]
Over the centuries leading up to the New Testament era, the numerous independent states of Asia Minor had been brought under the control of firstly the Greeks, then the Romans. In the New Testament period a number of them were joined together to form what became known as the province of Asia. The local people, however, continued to use the names of the former states when referring to certain regions.In the north-west of the newly formed province was the former region of Mysia, which included the towns of Troas, Assos, Adramyttium and Pergamum. In the south-east was part of the former region of Phrygia, the other part of which was in the neighbouring province of Galatia. The towns of Colossae, Laodicea and Hierapolis fell within the part of Phrygia that was in the province of Asia.
Phrygia was the region where Paul first entered the province of Asia (during his second missionary journey), but God did not allow him to preach there. Paul therefore headed north towards the province of Bithynia, but he was forbidden to preach there also. He then headed west across Mysia to Troas, from where he sailed for Europe (Acts 16:6-11).
When returning to Syria from Europe at the end of the journey, Paul called at Ephesus, chief city of the province of Asia, where he left Aquila and Priscilla. This marked the beginning of Christian work in the province. Only a few months later, Paul returned to Ephesus, and over the next three years carried on an extensive work of evangelism in and around the city (Acts 18:18-21; 19:1-20; 20:31; see EPHESUS).
It was probably during this time that churches were founded in neighbouring districts at Colossae, Laodicea and Hierapolis, possibly by disciples whom Paul had taught in Ephesus (Acts 19:8-10; Col 1:2,7; 2:1; 4:13). Churches were probably established also at Smyrna, Sardis, Philadelphia and Thyatira, which were towns not far to the north of Ephesus (Rev. 2:8,12,18; 3:1,7).
The Jews of Asia were bitterly opposed to Paul and were a source of constant persecution (Acts 21:27; 24:18; 2 Cor 1:8-9; 2 Tim 1:15). The condition of the churches in Asia at the end of the first century is reflected in the letters that John wrote to seven churches there (Rev 2:1-3:22; see entries under the respective towns).
