Abilene Summary
STEPBible TIPNR
Abilene, a region north of Damascus, ruled by the tetrarch Lysanias.
Abilene
PlaceA region ruled by Lysanias when John began preaching.
Names
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en
Abilene
the father of mourning
- el Ἀβιληνή · G0009
- bg Авилиния
Location
Mentioned in (1)
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Abilene Article
STEPBible TIPNR
Abilene was a region located north of Damascus, Syria, mentioned in Luke 3:1 as being under the rule of Lysanias the tetrarch when John the Baptist began his ministry. The name Abilene is derived from its capital city, Abila. Inscriptions found near Abila refer to a Lysanias as tetrarch and mention the "Abilenians," confirming the existence of this region. The exact boundaries of Abilene are unclear, but it was situated in the Anti-Lebanon mountain range, likely in the area of the modern village of Suk Wady Barada. Abilene is only mentioned in passing in the Bible as a geographical reference point for the beginning of John's ministry.
Abilene Dictionary
Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
A plain, a district lying on the east slope of the Anti-Lebanon range; so called from its chief town, Abila (Luke 3:1), which stood in the Suk Wady Barada, between Heliopolis (Baalbec) and Damascus, 38 miles from the former and 18 from the latter. Lysanias was governor or tetrarch of this province.
Sources: OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding Data (CC BY 4.0, a498faa) · STEPBible TIPNR (CC BY 4.0, Abilene@Luk.3.1) · Theographic Bible Metadata (CC BY-SA 4.0, abilene_12) · Wikidata (CC0 1.0, Q3106439)