Lexical Summary Asia: Asia Original Word: Ἀσία Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Asia. Of uncertain derivation; Asia, i.e. Asia Minor, or (usually) only its western shore -- Asia. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain origin Definition Asia, a Roman province NASB Translation Asia (18). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 773: ἈσίαἈσία, Ἀσίας, ἡ, Asia; 1. Asia proper, ἡ ἰδίως καλουμένῃ Ἀσία (Ptolemy, 5, 2), or proconsular Asia (often so called from the 16th century down; but correctly speaking it was apvoeinciaconsularis, although the ruler of it was vested with 'proconsular power.' The 'Asia' of the N. T. must not be confounded with the 'Asia proconsularis' of the 2. A part of proconsular Asia, embracing Mysia, Lydia, and Caria (Pliny, h. n. 5, 27 (28) (others, 5, 100)): Acts 2:9. The “province of Asia” was a Roman administrative district covering the western coastal strip of Asia Minor (modern-day Türkiye). With Ephesus as its capital, it included such strategic ports and trade centers as Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, Miletus, Troas, and Colossae. Wealth, learning, pagan cults (especially Artemis of the Ephesians), and a large Jewish diaspora made the region a crucible for early Christian mission. Asia in Luke–Acts • Restrained by the Spirit (Acts 16:6). “They were prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the word in the province of Asia.” The Lord’s timing overruled Paul’s plan, directing the gospel toward Macedonia first. Asia in Paul’s Epistles • Suffering beyond measure (2 Corinthians 1:8). “We were under great pressure… in the province of Asia,” teaching reliance on God who raises the dead. Asia in Petrine and Johannine Writings • Scattered yet chosen (1 Peter 1:1). Peter addresses believers in “Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,” revealing the province as part of a wider Diaspora church living as exiles. Church Growth and Challenges 1. Rapid expansion: The gospel saturated urban and rural districts within two years (Acts 19:10). Key Cities and Churches • Ephesus – missionary base, later addressed first in Revelation. Lessons on Providential Mission Strategy • Spirit-led timing overrides human planning (Acts 16:6). Legacy for the Church The province of Asia stands as a biblical case study in comprehensive evangelization: Spirit-initiated, Scripture-centered, city-focused, and region-wide. Its record encourages modern believers to trust God’s timing, invest deeply in strategic centers, confront cultural idols with truth, and nurture resilient congregations that shine like lampstands until the Lord returns. Englishman's Concordance Acts 2:9 N-AFSGRK: καὶ τὴν Ἀσίαν NAS: and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, KJV: in Pontus, and Asia, INT: and Asia Acts 6:9 N-GFS Acts 16:6 N-DFS Acts 19:10 N-AFS Acts 19:22 N-AFS Acts 19:26 N-GFS Acts 19:27 N-NFS Acts 20:16 N-DFS Acts 20:18 N-AFS Acts 21:27 N-GFS Acts 24:18 N-GFS Acts 27:2 N-AFS Romans 16:5 N-GFS 1 Corinthians 16:19 N-GFS 2 Corinthians 1:8 N-DFS 2 Timothy 1:15 N-DFS 1 Peter 1:1 N-GFS Revelation 1:4 N-DFS Strong's Greek 773 |