Perga

Perga was a city in Pamphylia (modern-day Turkey) where Paul and Barnabas preached the gospel during their first missionary journey.

Perga was an ancient city located in the region of Pamphylia, on the southern coast of modern-day Turkey. It is mentioned in the New Testament in connection with Paul's first missionary journey (Act.13.13-14; 14:25). Paul and Barnabas, along with John Mark, sailed from Paphos on the island of Cyprus to Perga in Pamphylia. Upon arriving in Perga, John Mark left the group and returned to Jerusalem (Act.13.13). Paul and Barnabas then traveled north to Antioch in Pisidia, where they preached in the synagogue (Act.13.14). On their return journey, Paul and Barnabas passed through Perga again, preaching the gospel to the city before sailing back to Antioch in Syria (Act.14.25). Although the biblical account does not provide extensive details about their ministry in Perga, it is clear that the city was an important stop on Paul's missionary itinerary and played a role in the spread of Christianity in the region.

The capital of Pamphylia, on the coast of Asia Minor. Paul and his companions landed at this place from Cyprus on their first missionary journey (Acts 13:13, 14), and here Mark forsook the party and returned to Jerusalem. Some time afterwards Paul and Barnabas again visited this city and “preached the word” (14:25). It stood on the banks of the river Cestrus, some 7 miles from its mouth, and was a place of some commercial importance. It is now a ruin, called Eski Kalessi.