Asia (Roman Province)

Biblical References

• Acts: Among those gathered in Jerusalem at Pentecost were people from Asia (Acts 2:9). Jews from Asia disputed with Stephen (Acts 6:9). The Holy Spirit forbade Paul and his companions to preach the word in Asia (Acts 16:6). Later, however, Paul taught in Ephesus for two years, "so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks" (Acts 19:10). Tychicus and Trophimus, both of Asia, accompanied Paul (Acts 20:4), and Jews from Asia stirred up a riot by accusing Paul in the temple at Jerusalem (Acts 21:27).
• Pauline Epistles: Paul calls Epaenetus the firstfruits of Asia unto Christ (Romans 16:5) and conveys the greeting "The churches of Asia salute you" (1 Corinthians 16:19). He speaks of the trouble he suffered in Asia (2 Corinthians 1:8) and writes that "all they which are in Asia be turned away from me" (2 Timothy 1:15; see Phygelus and Hermogenes).
• General Epistles and Revelation: 1 Peter was addressed to believers scattered throughout five regions, including Asia (1 Peter 1:1). Revelation opens with a letter addressed "to the seven churches which are in Asia" (Revelation 1:4, 11).

Background

In these texts, Asia refers not to the continent but to a Roman province (an administrative region governed directly by Rome) encompassing the western part of Asia Minor. In 133 BC, Attalus III, king of Pergamum, bequeathed his kingdom to Rome; after several years spent suppressing a revolt, the territory was organized as a province. Its boundaries changed over time. In the New Testament period it was a senatorial province governed by a proconsul; the "deputies" mentioned in Acts 19:38 refer to this office. Pergamum was initially the leading city, and in the New Testament period Ephesus is understood to have been the principal city and the residence of the proconsul. Acts 19 also depicts the religious and economic life of Ephesus, centered on the temple of Diana (Artemis), and mentions "certain of the chief of Asia" (Acts 19:31).

Significance in the Bible as a Whole

Asia was one of the principal settings through which the gospel spread from Jerusalem into the Gentile world. During Paul's missionary journeys, Ephesus became the base where he stayed the longest. Later in the New Testament, the seven churches of Asia in Revelation portray congregations living amid persecution and compromise.

Interpretation and Issues

• The text does not explain why the Holy Spirit prevented preaching in Asia in Acts 16:6. A common explanation is that it was a matter of timing, but this is an interpretation.
• Most interpreters read the seven churches of Revelation as actual historical congregations. Some dispensationalist interpreters additionally see them as symbolizing seven eras of church history, a view with which many other interpreters disagree.
• The modern term "Asia Minor" refers to the entire Anatolian peninsula, an area larger than this province, so the two should be distinguished.