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 and Medes and Elamites, and those who live in Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
But some members of the synagogue called that of the Libertines and Cyrenians and Alexandrians and of those from Cilicia and Asia, arose and disputed with Stephen,
And passing through Phrygia and the country of Galatia, being forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia,
And this was done for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
And sending two that served him into Macedonia, Timothy and Erastus, he continued a time in Asia.
and you see and hear, that not only at Ephesus, but in almost all Asia, this Paul has led away a great multitude by persuasion, saying that things which are made by hands are not gods. And not only this work of ours is in danger of coming into contempt, but even the temple of the great goddess Diana of being set at nought, and her majesty also which all Asia and the world worships, of being destroyed.
And there followed him to Asia, Sopater the son of Pyrrhus of Berea, and of those of Thessalonica, Aristarchus and Secundus, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and those of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus;
For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, that it might not be necessary for him to spend a long time in Asia; for he hastened, if it was possible for him, to be at Jerusalem at the day of Pentecost.
And when they had come to him, he said to them, You know from the first day that I came into Asia, how I was with you at all times,
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/sawyer'>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 and Medes and Elamites, and those who live in Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
But some members of the synagogue called that of the Libertines and Cyrenians and Alexandrians and of those from Cilicia and Asia, arose and disputed with Stephen,
And passing through Phrygia and the country of Galatia, being forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia,
And this was done for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
And sending two that served him into Macedonia, Timothy and Erastus, he continued a time in Asia.
and you see and hear, that not only at Ephesus, but in almost all Asia, this Paul has led away a great multitude by persuasion, saying that things which are made by hands are not gods. And not only this work of ours is in danger of coming into contempt, but even the temple of the great goddess Diana of being set at nought, and her majesty also which all Asia and the world worships, of being destroyed.
and some of the rulers of Asia also, who were friendly to him, sending to him, besought him not to expose himself in the theatre.
And there followed him to Asia, Sopater the son of Pyrrhus of Berea, and of those of Thessalonica, Aristarchus and Secundus, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and those of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus;
For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, that it might not be necessary for him to spend a long time in Asia; for he hastened, if it was possible for him, to be at Jerusalem at the day of Pentecost.
And when they had come to him, he said to them, You know from the first day that I came into Asia, how I was with you at all times,
AND when the seven days were nearly completed, the Jews from Asia seeing him in the temple excited all the multitude, and laid hands on him,
in which certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, not with a multitude, nor with a tumult,
And going on board of a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to places in Asia, we set sail, Aristarchus a Macedonian of Thessalonica being with us;
saying, What you see write in a book, and send to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamus and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to 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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If, therefore, Demetrius and the artisans with him have a charge against any, court days are held, and there are pro-consuls; let them accuse one another.
If, therefore, Demetrius and the artisans with him have a charge against any, court days are held, and there are pro-consuls; 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 and Medes and Elamites, and those who live in Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Lybia about Cyrene, and the Roman strangers, both Jews and proselytes,
And passing through Phrygia and the country of Galatia, being forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia,
And this was done for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
and you see and hear, that not only at Ephesus, but in almost all Asia, this Paul has led away a great multitude by persuasion, saying that things which are made by hands are not gods. And not only this work of ours is in danger of coming into contempt, but even the temple of the great goddess Diana of being set at nought, and her majesty also which all Asia and the world worships, of being destroyed.
PETER, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect strangers of the dispersion of 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/sawyer'>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 and Medes and Elamites, and those who live in Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
But some members of the synagogue called that of the Libertines and Cyrenians and Alexandrians and of those from Cilicia and Asia, arose and disputed with Stephen,
And passing through Phrygia and the country of Galatia, being forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia,
And this was done for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
And sending two that served him into Macedonia, Timothy and Erastus, he continued a time in Asia.
and you see and hear, that not only at Ephesus, but in almost all Asia, this Paul has led away a great multitude by persuasion, saying that things which are made by hands are not gods. And not only this work of ours is in danger of coming into contempt, but even the temple of the great goddess Diana of being set at nought, and her majesty also which all Asia and the world worships, of being destroyed.
And there followed him to Asia, Sopater the son of Pyrrhus of Berea, and of those of Thessalonica, Aristarchus and Secundus, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and those of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus;
For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, that it might not be necessary for him to spend a long time in Asia; for he hastened, if it was possible for him, to be at Jerusalem at the day of Pentecost.
And when they had come to him, he said to them, You know from the first day that I came into Asia, how I was with you at all times,
AND when the seven days were nearly completed, the Jews from Asia seeing him in the temple excited all the multitude, and laid hands on him,
And going on board of a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to places in Asia, we set sail, Aristarchus a Macedonian of Thessalonica being with us;
and [salute] the assembly at their house. Salute Epenetus my beloved, who is the first fruit of Asia to Christ.
and who made known to us your love in the Spirit.
To the pure all things are pure; but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but their mind and conscience are defiled.
John, to the seven churches in Asia. Grace and peace be to you, from the Is and the Was and the Is to come, and from the seven spirits which are before his throne,
saying, What you see write in a book, and send to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamus and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to 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.