773. Asia
Lexical Summary
Asia: Asia

Original Word: Ἀσία
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: Asia
Pronunciation: ah-SEE-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (as-ee'-ah)
KJV: Asia
NASB: Asia
Word Origin: [of uncertain derivation]

1. Asia, i.e. Asia Minor
2. (usually) only its western shore

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Asia.

Of uncertain derivation; Asia, i.e. Asia Minor, or (usually) only its western shore -- Asia.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
of uncertain origin
Definition
Asia, a Roman province
NASB Translation
Asia (18).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 773: Ἀσία

Ἀσία, Ἀσίας, , Asia;

1. Asia proper, 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 4th century), embracing Mysia, Lydia, Phrygia and Caria (cf. Cicero, pro Flac c. 27): Acts 6:9 (L omits; Tr marginal reading brackets); ff; 1 Peter 1:1; Revelation 1:4; and, apparently, Acts 19:26; Acts 20:16; 2 Corinthians 1:8; 2 Timothy 1:15, etc. Cf. Winers RWB under the word Asien; Stark in Schenkel i., p. 261f; (BB. DD. under the word ; Conyb. and Howson, St. Paul, chapter viii.; Wieseler, Chron. d. apost. Zeit., p. 31ff).

2. A part of proconsular Asia, embracing Mysia, Lydia, and Caria (Pliny, h. n. 5, 27 (28) (others, 5, 100)): Acts 2:9.

Topical Lexicon
Geographical Setting and Historical Context

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.
• Pilgrims at Pentecost (Acts 2:9). Jews and proselytes from Asia heard Peter’s sermon, providing some of the earliest witnesses who would later carry the message home.
• Opposition to Stephen (Acts 6:9). Asian Jews, zealous for the Law, resisted the nascent church, illustrating the mixed receptivity that would characterize the province.
• Two-year discipleship hub (Acts 19:8-10). Paul’s daily teaching in the lecture hall of Tyrannus meant that “everyone who lived in the province of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord” (Acts 19:10).
• Clash with idolatry (Acts 19:26-27). The success of the gospel threatened the Artemis cult’s economy: “in nearly all the province of Asia, Paul has persuaded and turned away a large number of people” (19:26).
• Elders summoned to Miletus (Acts 20:16-18). Though hastening to Jerusalem, Paul still invested in Asian leadership, exemplifying pastoral priority.
• Arrest and journeys (Acts 21:27; 24:18; 27:2). Asian Jews instigate Paul’s arrest, and Asian shipping lanes later carry him toward Rome, underscoring the province’s constant presence in Luke’s narrative.

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.
• Desertion yet grace (2 Timothy 1:15). “Everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me,” a sober reminder that revival and apostasy can coexist geographically.
• Firstfruits and house-churches (Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19). Epaenetus is “the first convert to Christ in Asia,” and “the churches of Asia send you greetings,” showing that multiplication followed the initial planting.
• Open doors and opposition (implied in 1 Corinthians 16:8-9). Paul stays in Ephesus “for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, although many oppose me.”

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.
• Seven lampstands (Revelation 1:4, 11). John writes “to the seven churches in the province of Asia,” receiving Christ’s messages that commend faithfulness, correct error, and call to conquer. Thus Asia provides the canonical portrait of church health, decline, and hope just decades after Acts 19.

Church Growth and Challenges

1. Rapid expansion: The gospel saturated urban and rural districts within two years (Acts 19:10).
2. Economic impact: Trades tied to idolatry collapsed when people turned from carved gods (Acts 19:23-27).
3. Spiritual warfare: Extraordinary miracles (Acts 19:11-12) and the public burning of magic scrolls (Acts 19:19) signal direct confrontation with demonic strongholds.
4. Costly discipleship: Believers faced riots, social ostracism, and in some cases the temptation to abandon the apostle (2 Timothy 1:15).
5. Leadership development: Elders from Ephesus (Acts 20:17-38) model shepherding, vigilance against false teachers, and generosity.

Key Cities and Churches

• Ephesus – missionary base, later addressed first in Revelation.
• Smyrna & Pergamum – early martyrdom and throne of Satan language (Revelation 2:8-17).
• Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea – illustrate purity, complacency, perseverance, and lukewarmness.
• Colossae – benefited from the overflow of Paul’s Ephesian ministry (cf. Colossians 1:7).
• Troas – site of Paul’s vision for Macedonia and later ministry (Acts 16:8-10; 20:5-12).

Lessons on Providential Mission Strategy

• Spirit-led timing overrides human planning (Acts 16:6).
• Teaching centers can evangelize an entire region without constant itineration (Acts 19:9-10).
• Cultural strongholds topple when Christ is exalted, but opposition intensifies (Acts 19:23-41).
• Sustained pastoral care is indispensable after initial evangelism (Acts 20:28-31; Revelation 2–3).
• The gospel’s power is evidenced both in conversions (Epaenetus, multitudes in Asia) and in perseverance amid desertion (2 Timothy 1:15).

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.

Forms and Transliterations
Ασια Ἀσία Ἀσίᾳ Ασιαν Ἀσίαν Ασιας Ἀσίας Asia Asía Asíāi Asian Asían Asias Asías
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Acts 2:9 N-AFS
GRK: καὶ τὴν Ἀσίαν
NAS: and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
KJV: in Pontus, and Asia,
INT: and Asia

Acts 6:9 N-GFS
GRK: Κιλικίας καὶ Ἀσίας συζητοῦντες τῷ
NAS: from Cilicia and Asia, rose
KJV: and of Asia, disputing
INT: Cilicia and Asia disputing with

Acts 16:6 N-DFS
GRK: ἐν τῇ Ἀσίᾳ
NAS: to speak the word in Asia;
KJV: the word in Asia,
INT: in Asia

Acts 19:10 N-AFS
GRK: κατοικοῦντας τὴν Ἀσίαν ἀκοῦσαι τὸν
NAS: who lived in Asia heard
KJV: they which dwelt in Asia heard
INT: inhabited Asia heard the

Acts 19:22 N-AFS
GRK: εἰς τὴν Ἀσίαν
NAS: he himself stayed in Asia for a while.
KJV: stayed in Asia for a season.
INT: in Asia

Acts 19:26 N-GFS
GRK: πάσης τῆς Ἀσίας ὁ Παῦλος
NAS: but in almost all of Asia, this Paul
KJV: almost throughout all Asia, this Paul
INT: of all Asia which Paul

Acts 19:27 N-NFS
GRK: ὅλη ἡ Ἀσία καὶ ἡ
NAS: all of Asia and the world
KJV: whom all Asia and the world
INT: all Asia and the

Acts 20:16 N-DFS
GRK: ἐν τῇ Ἀσίᾳ ἔσπευδεν γὰρ
NAS: not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying
KJV: spend the time in Asia: for he hasted,
INT: in Asia he was hastened indeed

Acts 20:18 N-AFS
GRK: εἰς τὴν Ἀσίαν πῶς μεθ'
NAS: that I set foot in Asia, how
KJV: into Asia, after what manner
INT: in Asia how with

Acts 21:27 N-GFS
GRK: ἀπὸ τῆς Ἀσίας Ἰουδαῖοι θεασάμενοι
NAS: the Jews from Asia, upon seeing
KJV: which were of Asia, when they saw
INT: from Asia Jews having seen

Acts 24:18 N-GFS
GRK: ἀπὸ τῆς Ἀσίας Ἰουδαῖοι
NAS: But [there were] some Jews from Asia--
KJV: Jews from Asia found me
INT: from Asia Jews

Acts 27:2 N-AFS
GRK: κατὰ τὴν Ἀσίαν τόπους ἀνήχθημεν
NAS: along the coast of Asia, we put out to sea
KJV: the coasts of Asia; [one] Aristarchus,
INT: along Asia places we set sail

Romans 16:5 N-GFS
GRK: ἀπαρχὴ τῆς Ἀσίας εἰς Χριστόν
NAS: to Christ from Asia.
INT: a first-fruit of Achaia for Christ

1 Corinthians 16:19 N-GFS
GRK: ἐκκλησίαι τῆς Ἀσίας ἀσπάζεται ὑμᾶς
NAS: The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila
KJV: The churches of Asia salute you.
INT: churches of Asia greet you

2 Corinthians 1:8 N-DFS
GRK: ἐν τῇ Ἀσίᾳ ὅτι καθ'
NAS: which came [to us] in Asia, that we were burdened
KJV: to us in Asia, that we were pressed
INT: in Asia that against

2 Timothy 1:15 N-DFS
GRK: ἐν τῇ Ἀσίᾳ ὧν ἐστὶν
NAS: that all who are in Asia turned away
KJV: they which are in Asia be turned away from
INT: in Asia of whom is

1 Peter 1:1 N-GFS
GRK: Γαλατίας Καππαδοκίας Ἀσίας καὶ Βιθυνίας
NAS: Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
KJV: Cappadocia, Asia, and
INT: of Galatia of Cappadocia of Asia and Bithynia

Revelation 1:4 N-DFS
GRK: ἐν τῇ Ἀσίᾳ χάρις ὑμῖν
NAS: churches that are in Asia: Grace
KJV: are in Asia: Grace
INT: in Asia Grace to you

Strong's Greek 773
18 Occurrences


Ἀσίᾳ — 6 Occ.
Ἀσίαν — 5 Occ.
Ἀσίας — 7 Occ.

772
Top of Page
Top of Page