Reference: Asia
American
One of the great divisions of the eastern continent, lying east of Europe. The Asia spoken of in the Bible is Asia Minor, a peninsula which lies between the Euxine or Black sea and the eastern part of the Mediterranean, and which formerly included the provinces of Phrygia, Cilicia, Pamphylia, Caria, Lycia, Lydia, Mysia, Bithynia, Paphlagonia, Cappadocia, Galatia, Lycaonia, and Pisidia. On the western coast were anciently the countries of Eolia, Ionia, and Doris, the names of which were afterwards retained, although the countries were included in the provinces of Mysia, Lydia, and Caria. Many Jews were scattered over these regions, as appears from the history in Acts, and from Josephus, the writers of the New Testament comprehend, under the name of Asia, either (1) the whole of Asia Minor, Ac 19:26-27; 20:4,16,18; or (2) only proconsular Asia, that is, the region of Ionia, of which Ephesus was the capital, and which Strabo also calls Asia, Ac 2:9; 6:9; 16:6; 19:10,22. Cicero speaks of proconsular Asia as containing the provinces of Phrygia, Mysia, Caria, and Lydia.
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Parthians, Medes, and Elamites and the inhabiters of Mesopotamia, of Jewry and of Cappadocia, of Pontus and of Asia;
Then there arose certain of the Synagogue, which are called Libertines, and Cyrenians, and of Alexandria, and of Cilicia, and of Asia: and disputed with Stephen.
When they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the holy ghost to preach the word in Asia,
And this continued by the space of two years: So that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
So sent he into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him: Timothy and Erastus: but he himself remained in Asia for a season.
Moreover, ye see and hear that not alone at Ephesus: but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be not gods which are made with hands: so that not only this our craft cometh into peril to be set at nought: but that also the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised. And her magnificence should be destroyed, which all Asia, and the world worshippeth."
There accompanied him into Asia, Sopater of Beroea: And of Thessalonica, Aristarchus and Secundus, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy: And out of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.
For Paul had determined to leave Ephesus as they sailed, because he would not spend the time in Asia. For he hasted to be, if he could possibly, at Jerusalem at the day of Pentecost.
And when they were come to him, he said unto them, "Ye know from the first day that I came unto Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,
Easton
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 Ac 2:9; 6:9; 16/6/type/mstc'>16:6; 19:10,22; 20:4,16,18, etc., and probably Asia Minor in Ac 19:26-27; 21:27; 24:18; 27:2. Proconsular Asia contained the seven churches of the Apocalypse (Re 1:11). The "chiefs of Asia" (Ac 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.
Illustration: Proconsular Asia and the Seven Churches
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Parthians, Medes, and Elamites and the inhabiters of Mesopotamia, of Jewry and of Cappadocia, of Pontus and of Asia;
Then there arose certain of the Synagogue, which are called Libertines, and Cyrenians, and of Alexandria, and of Cilicia, and of Asia: and disputed with Stephen.
When they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the holy ghost to preach the word in Asia,
And this continued by the space of two years: So that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
So sent he into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him: Timothy and Erastus: but he himself remained in Asia for a season.
Moreover, ye see and hear that not alone at Ephesus: but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be not gods which are made with hands: so that not only this our craft cometh into peril to be set at nought: but that also the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised. And her magnificence should be destroyed, which all Asia, and the world worshippeth."
Certain also of the chief of Asia which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not press into the common hall.
There accompanied him into Asia, Sopater of Beroea: And of Thessalonica, Aristarchus and Secundus, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy: And out of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.
For Paul had determined to leave Ephesus as they sailed, because he would not spend the time in Asia. For he hasted to be, if he could possibly, at Jerusalem at the day of Pentecost.
And when they were come to him, he said unto them, "Ye know from the first day that I came unto Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,
And as the seven days should have been ended, the Jews which were of Asia when they saw him in the temple, they moved all the people and laid hands on him crying,
in the which they found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor yet with unquietness.
And we entered into a ship of Adramyttium, and loosed from land, appointed to sail by the coasts of Asia: one Aristarchus out of Macedonia, of the country of Thessalonica, being with us.
saying, "I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. That thou seest, write in a book and send it unto the congregations which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamum, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea."
Fausets
In the New Testament not the continent, nor Asia Minor, but the W. of Asia Minor, with Ephesus as its capital, including Mysia, Lydia, Caria. Attalus, king of Pergamus, left it to the Romans 138 B.C. It was placed by Augustus among the senatorial provinces, as distinguished from the imperial provinces. Hence it was governed by a "proconsul," as Ac 19:38 (anthupatos), with the minute propriety which marks truth, incidentally intimates. It had its "assize days" (agoraioi, margin "the court days are kept.") Here were the seven churches addressed in the Revelation. In the Old Testament "Asia" does not occur.
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Wherefore if Demetrius and the craftsmen which are with him, have any saying to any man: the law is open, and there are rulers. Let them accuse one another.
Wherefore if Demetrius and the craftsmen which are with him, have any saying to any man: the law is open, and there are rulers. Let them accuse one another.
Hastings
In the NT this word invariably means the Roman province Asia, which embraced roughly the western third of the peninsula which we call Asia Minor. It was bounded on the N.E. by the province of Bithynia, on the E. by the province of Galatia, on the S. by the province of Lycia, and had been ceded to the Romans by the will of the Pergamenian king Attalus III. in b.c. 133. The following ethnic districts were in this province
Morish
A'sia
This term in the N.T. does not refer to the portion of the earth now called Asia, nor does it include the whole of Asia Minor; but applies simply to the western part of Asia Minor, which was bequeathed to Rome by Attalus III. Philometor, king of Pergamus or king of Asia, B.C. 133. The province, with Ephesus as its capital, included Caria, Lydia, and Mysia, which were anciently called Doris, Ionia, and AEolis. It was governed by a proconsul. In Ac 2:9-10 'Asia' does not include Cappadocia, Pontus, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, which are all included in Asia Minor. Again, in Ac 16:6, Phrygia and Galatia are distinct from Asia: see also 1Pe 1:1. It will be seen in a map that all the seven churches of Asia, mentioned in the Revelation, are in the above named district. As Paul laboured in other parts of Asia Minor, and there being frequent intercourse between the various places and Ephesus, it may be that a wider area is in some passages referred to as 'Asia,' as in Ac 19:10,26-27.
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Parthians, Medes, and Elamites and the inhabiters of Mesopotamia, of Jewry and of Cappadocia, of Pontus and of Asia; Phrigia, Pamphylia, and of Egypt, and of the parts of Libya, which is beside Cyrene; And strangers of Rome;
When they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the holy ghost to preach the word in Asia,
And this continued by the space of two years: So that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
Moreover, ye see and hear that not alone at Ephesus: but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be not gods which are made with hands: so that not only this our craft cometh into peril to be set at nought: but that also the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised. And her magnificence should be destroyed, which all Asia, and the world worshippeth."
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that dwell here and there as strangers throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia;
Smith
A'sia
(orient). The passages in the New Testament where this word occurs are the following;
Ac 2:9; 6:9; 16/6/type/mstc'>16:6; 19:10,22,26-27; 20:4,16,18; 21:27; 27:2; Ro 16:5; 1Co 16:19; 2Co 1:8; 2Ti 1:15; 1Pe 1:1; Re 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.
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Parthians, Medes, and Elamites and the inhabiters of Mesopotamia, of Jewry and of Cappadocia, of Pontus and of Asia;
Then there arose certain of the Synagogue, which are called Libertines, and Cyrenians, and of Alexandria, and of Cilicia, and of Asia: and disputed with Stephen.
When they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the holy ghost to preach the word in Asia,
And this continued by the space of two years: So that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
So sent he into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him: Timothy and Erastus: but he himself remained in Asia for a season.
Moreover, ye see and hear that not alone at Ephesus: but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be not gods which are made with hands: so that not only this our craft cometh into peril to be set at nought: but that also the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised. And her magnificence should be destroyed, which all Asia, and the world worshippeth."
There accompanied him into Asia, Sopater of Beroea: And of Thessalonica, Aristarchus and Secundus, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy: And out of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.
For Paul had determined to leave Ephesus as they sailed, because he would not spend the time in Asia. For he hasted to be, if he could possibly, at Jerusalem at the day of Pentecost.
And when they were come to him, he said unto them, "Ye know from the first day that I came unto Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,
And as the seven days should have been ended, the Jews which were of Asia when they saw him in the temple, they moved all the people and laid hands on him crying,
And we entered into a ship of Adramyttium, and loosed from land, appointed to sail by the coasts of Asia: one Aristarchus out of Macedonia, of the country of Thessalonica, being with us.
Likewise, greet all the congregation that is in their house. Salute my well beloved Epaenetes, which is the firstfruit among them of Achaia.
which also declared unto us your love, which ye have in the spirit.
Unto the pure, are all things pure: but unto them that are defiled, and unbelieving, is nothing pure: but even the very minds and consciences of them are defiled.
John, to the seven congregations in Asia. Grace be with you and peace, from him which is and which was, and which is to come: and from the seven spirits which are present before his throne,
saying, "I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. That thou seest, write in a book and send it unto the congregations which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamum, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea."
Watsons
ASIA, one of the four grand divisions of the earth. It is also used in a more restricted sense for Asia Minor, or Anatolia. In the New Testament it always signifies the Roman Proconsular Asia, in which the seven Apocalyptic churches were situated.