The Roman Province of Lycia

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New Testament Roman Provinces
Achaia   -   Asia   -   Bithynia   -   Cappadocia
Cilicia   -   Dalmatia   -   Galatia   -   Judea
Macedonia   -   Syria
In 74 A.D. the province of Lycia and Pamphylia was created from the existing provincial area of Lycia (formed in 43 A.D. by Emperor Claudius) and Pamphylia. Lycia is directly referenced once (Acts 27:5) while Pamphylia is found five times in the King James translation (Acts 2:10, 13:13, 14:24, 15:38 and 27:5).

New Testament cities within Lycia - Pamphylia include Perga (Acts 13:13 - 14, 14:25), Myra (27:5), Patara (21:1) and Attalia (14:25).

William Smith, regarding the beauty and abundance of the Lycian part of the province, states the following.

"The valleys of these (large rivers in this area) and the smaller rivers, and the terraces above the sea in the south of the country, were fertile in corn, wine, oil, and fruits, and the mountain slopes were clothed with splendid cedars, firs, and plane-trees: saffron also was one chief product of the land" (A New Classical Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography, page 454).


Map of New Testament Roman Provinces in Asia Minor

Of Little Importance

The relatively small area of Lycia - Pamphylia meant that it was not taken too seriously during most of its history.

"How small and insignificant this territory was, may be seen from the records of the Persian war, to which Herodotus says that it sent only thirty ships; while Lycia, on one side, contributed fifty, and Cilicia, on the other, a hundred. Nor do we find the name invested with any wider significance, till we approach the frontier of the Roman period" (Life and Epistles of Apostle Paul by Conybeare and Howson, Chapter 8).

The apostle Paul visited this general area of Asia Minor during his first, third and fourth evangelistic travels.

Perga is noteworthy as the city where Mark, the gospel writer who accompanied Paul and Barnabas to the city, abruptly left the team and headed back to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13). This incident would later be the catalyst for Paul and Barnabas angrily splitting up (15:36 - 41) and preaching the gospel in separate directions.

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Series Primary Sources
A New Classical Dictionary of Greek
and Roman Biography, Mythology and Geography
Book of Acts and Paul in Roman Custody
by Brian Rapske
Book of Acts in Its Graeco-Roman Setting
by David W. J. Gill and Conrad Gempf
Holy Bible a Faithful Version (HBFV)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Life and Epistles of Apostle Paul
by Conybeare and Howson



Quotes in this series taken from
Holy Bible in Its Original Order
unless noted.


Roman Provinces in New Testament
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