Cilicia

Cilicia, a province in southeast Asia Minor, was the birthplace of Paul and an area where he ministered to the early churches.

Cilicia was a province located in the southeastern region of Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey. It was bounded by the Taurus Mountains to the north, separating it from Cappadocia, Lycaonia, and Isauria, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, Syria to the east, and Pamphylia to the west.

In the New Testament, Cilicia is mentioned several times in connection with the apostle Paul. Paul was born in Tarsus, one of the chief cities of Cilicia (Act.21.39; 22:3). After his conversion, Paul spent some time in Cilicia (Galatians 1:21; Act.9.30) and later revisited the region during his second missionary journey, strengthening the churches (Act.15.41).

Cilicia had a significant Jewish population, and the synagogue of the Cilicians in Jerusalem was among those who disputed with Stephen (Act.6.9). The early Christian church spread to Cilicia, as evidenced by the letter addressed to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia (Act.15.23).

Geographically, Cilicia was an important region, serving as a major trade route between Syria and the west. The Cilician Gates, a mountain pass through the Taurus Mountains, was a strategic point of travel and was likely used by Paul and Barnabas during their missionary journeys (Act.15.41).

A maritime province in the south-east of Asia Minor. Tarsus, the birth-place of Paul, was one of its chief towns, and the seat of a celebrated school of philosophy. Its luxurious climate attracted to it many Greek residents after its incorporation with the Macedonian empire. It was formed into a Roman province, B.C. 67. The Jews of Cilicia had a synagogue at Jerusalem (Acts 6:9). Paul visited it soon after his conversion (Gal. 1:21; Acts 9:30), and again, on his second missionary journey (15:41), “he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.” It was famous for its goat’s-hair cloth, called cilicium. Paul learned in his youth the trade of making tents of this cloth.