Asia
Dictionary of Bible Names

Asia, in the New Testament, refers to the Roman province on the far western side of Asia Minor. It included such regions (from north to south) as Mysia, Phygia (which it shared with Galatia), Lydia and finally Caria in the south. The wealthy capital of the province was the port city of Ephesus.

Cities within Asia included the famous seven churches of Revelation, as well as Miletus, Troas, Colosse and Hierapolis. Most of the the islands on the eastern side of the Aegean Sea, such as Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Cos, Rhodes and Patmos were considered a part of the province.

Those from Asia were in Jerusalem on Pentecost in 30 A.D. when God poured out his spirit on more than 3,100 people (Acts 2). It was one of the five provinces the Apostle Paul focused most of his evangelism efforts during his thirty-five year ministry. Paul visited this Roman province during his second and third missionary journeys.

Important Verses

Acts 2:1, 7 - 9
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place . . . And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

Roman Province of Asia in Asia Minor

Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia.

Acts 6:8 - 9
And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.

Acts 19:8 - 10
And he (Apostle Paul) went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.

And this continued by the space of two years: so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks . . .

Acts 20:4, 16
And there accompanied him . . . Sopater of Berea: and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus: and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus . . .

For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.

2Corinthians 1:8
For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

1Peter 1:1
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.

Revelation 1:1, 4
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John . . .

John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come: and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne: