Bible Meaning: A public prison
Strong's Concordance #G2972
Coos (Cos) is a small island in the Aegean Sea located near the southwestern part of Asia Minor. It, along with several other islands such Rhodes and Patmos, were considered part of the Roman province of Asia.
Anciently, Coos (Cos) was well known for its quality wine, as well as for its exports of wheat, silk, ointments, purple dye and other goods.
The island of Coos (Cos) also boasts as being the birthplace of Hippocrates (c. 460 - c. 370) who is considered the father of medicine. It should therefore come as no surprise that Cos hosted a medical school and hospital.
The original Hippocratic Oath, a form of which is still administered by most medical schools, has doctors promise to "help the sick according to my ability and judgment, but never with a view to injury and wrong-doing."
The Apostle Paul, toward the end of his third missionary journey, docked overnight at Coos before continuing his travels.
Important Verses
Acts 20:17, 22, 21:1 - 3
And from Miletus he (Paul) sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church . . . And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there . . .
And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos (Cos), and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara:
And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia (Phoenicia), we went aboard, and set forth. Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre . . .