Biblical Geography: Roman Provinces around the Aegean Sea
by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.
MACEDONIA – region of southeastern "Europe" (northern part of modern Greece) where the Pauline mission first spreads; a "province" during the Roman Empire; includes the cities/towns of Neapolis, Philippi, Amphipolis, Apollonia, Thessalonica, and Beroea.
Macedonia (24x) / Macedonians (5x); see especially Acts 16:6--17:15
Acts 16:9-12 – During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." / When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them. / Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, / and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days.
Acts 18:5 – When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with proclaiming the word, testifying to the Jews that the Messiah was Jesus.
Acts 19:21-22 – Now after these things had been accomplished, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go through Macedonia and Achaia, and then to go on to Jerusalem. He said, "After I have gone there, I must also see Rome." / So he sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he himself stayed for some time longer in Asia.
Acts 19:29 – The city was filled with the confusion; and people rushed together to the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's travel companions.
Acts 20:1-3 – After the uproar [in Ephesus] had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples; and after encouraging them and saying farewell, he left for Macedonia. / When he had gone through those regions and had given the believers much encouragement, he came to Greece, / where he stayed for three months. He was about to set sail for Syria when a plot was made against him by the Jews, and so he decided to return through Macedonia.
Acts 27:2 – Embarking on a ship of Adramyttium that was about to set sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica.
Rom 15:26 – for Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to share their resources with the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.
1 Cor 16:5 – I will visit you after passing through Macedonia-- for I intend to pass through Macedonia--
2 Cor 1:16 – I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on to Judea.
2 Cor 2:13 – but my mind could not rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said farewell to them and went on to Macedonia.
2 Cor 7:5 – For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted in every way-- disputes without and fears within.
2 Cor 8:1 – We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia;
2 Cor 9:2-4 – for I know your eagerness, which is the subject of my boasting about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year; and your zeal has stirred up most of them. / But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you may not prove to have been empty in this case, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be; / otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated-- to say nothing of you-- in this undertaking.
2 Cor 11:9 – And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for my needs were supplied by the friends who came from Macedonia. So I refrained and will continue to refrain from burdening you in any way.
Phil 4:15 – You Philippians indeed know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you alone.
1 Thess 1:7-8 – so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. / For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it.
1 Thess 4:10 – and indeed you do love all the brothers and sisters throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, beloved, to do so more and more,
1 Tim 1:3 – I urge you, as I did when I was on my way to Macedonia, to remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach any different doctrine,
Neapolis (1x) – Macedonian port city (now called Kavala), just south of Philippi
Acts 16:11 – We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis,
Philippi (4x) / Philippians (1x) – Roman colony
in Eastern Macedonia; now an archaeological site; very early Pauline community
Acts 16:12 – and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days.
Acts 20:6 – but we sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we joined them in Troas, where we stayed for seven days.
Phil 1:1 – Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
Phil 4:15 – You Philippians indeed know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you alone.
1 Thess 2:2 – but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition.
Amphipolis and Apollonia(1x each) – towns through which Paul passed, but evidently without founding any Christian communities
Acts 17:1 – After Paul and Silas had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
Thessalonica (5x) / Thessalonians (4x) – ancient city in central Macedonia (today spelled Thessaloniki); important early Pauline community
Acts 17:1 – After Paul and Silas had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
Acts 17:11 – These Jews were more receptive than those in Thessalonica, for they welcomed the message very eagerly and examined the scriptures every day to see whether these things were so.
Acts 17:13 – But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Beroea as well, they came there too, to stir up and incite the crowds.
Acts 20:4 – He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Beroea, by Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, by Gaius from Derbe, and by Timothy, as well as by Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia.
Acts 27:2 – Embarking on a ship of Adramyttium that was about to set sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica.
Phil 4:16 – For even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me help for my needs more than once.
1 Thess 1:1 – Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. (1 Thess. 1:1 NRS)
2 Thess 1:1 – Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: (2 Thess. 1:1 NRS)
2 Tim 4:10 – for Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
Beroea (3x) – smaller city west of Thessalonica (now called Veria); where Paul founded a small community of believers
Acts 17:10-14 – That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas off to Beroea; and when they arrived, they went to the Jewish synagogue. / These Jews were more receptive than those in Thessalonica, for they welcomed the message very eagerly and examined the scriptures every day to see whether these things were so. / Many of them therefore believed, including not a few Greek women and men of high standing. / But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Beroea as well, they came there too, to stir up and incite the crowds.
/ Then the believers immediately sent Paul away to the coast, but Silas and Timothy remained behind [in Beroea].
Acts 20:4 – He [Paul] was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Beroea, by Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, by Gaius from Derbe, and by Timothy, as well as by Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia.
ACHAIA – core region of ancient "Greece," including the cities of Athens and Corinth, along with their ports and surrounding towns
Mark 7:26 – "Now the woman was a Gentile [lit. "Greek"], of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter."
Acts 17:12 – "Many of them therefore believed, including not a few Greek women and men of high standing."
Acts 20:2 – "When he had gone through those regions [Macedonia] and had given the believers much encouragement, he came to GREECE," [and then he stayed in Corinth for 3 months]
For men called "Greek" or Greeks," see also John 7:35; 12:20;
Acts 14:1;
16:1, 3;
17:4;
18:4;
19:10, 17;
20:21;
21:28;
Rom 1:14, 16;
2:9-10;
3:9;
10:12;
1 Cor 1:22, 24;
10:32;
12:13;
Gal 2:3;
3:28; and
Col 3:11.
Achaia (10x) - see
especially Acts
18:1-18; 20:2-3
Acts 18:12 – "But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal."
Acts 18:27 – "And when he wished to cross over to Achaia, the believers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. On his arrival he greatly helped those who through grace had become believers,"
Acts 19:21 – "Now after these things had been accomplished, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go through Macedonia and Achaia, and then to go on to Jerusalem. He said, 'After I have gone there, I must also see Rome.' "
Rom 15:26 – "for Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to share their resources with the poor among the saints at Jerusalem."
1 Cor 16:15 – "Now, brothers and sisters, you know that members of the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints;"
2 Cor 1:1 – "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is in Corinth, including all the saints throughout Achaia:"
2 Cor 9:2 – "for I know your eagerness, which is the subject of my boasting about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year; and your zeal has stirred up most of them."
2 Cor 11:10 – "As the truth of Christ is in me, this boast of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia."
1 Thess 1:7-8 – "so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. /
For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it."
Athens (4x) /Athenians (2x) – capital city of Achaia; Paul preached there, but gained only a few converts; the Areopagus was a public gathering
place on the Acropolis of Athens, near the Parthenon
Acts 17:15-17 – "Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and after receiving instructions to have Silas and Timothy join him as soon as possible, they left him. / While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply distressed to see that the city was full of idols. / So he argued in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and also in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there."
Acts 17:19 – "So they took him and brought him to the Areopagus and asked him, 'May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?' "
Acts 17:21-22 – "Now all the Athenians and the foreigners living there would spend their time in nothing but telling or hearing something new. /
Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, 'Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way…' "
Acts 17:33-34 – "At that point Paul left them. / But some of them joined him and became believers, including Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris, and others with them."
Acts 18:1 – "After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth." [where he stayed for several years]
1 Thess 3:1 – "Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we decided to be left alone in Athens;" [while sending Timothy back north, to Thessalonica]
Acts 18:1 – "After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth."
Acts 18:8 – "Crispus, the official of the synagogue, became a believer in the Lord, together with all his household; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul became believers and were baptized."
Acts 19:1 – "While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples."
1 Cor 1:2 – "To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:"
2 Cor 1:1 – "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is in Corinth, including all the saints throughout Achaia:"
2 Cor 1:23 – "But I call on God as witness against me: it was to spare you that I did not come again to Corinth."
2 Cor 6:11 – "We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you."
2 Tim 4:20 –"Erastus remained in Corinth; Trophimus I left ill in Miletus."
Cenchreae (2x) – the ancient eastern port of Corinth; now a village called Kechries (Corinth's western port, Lechaion, is not mentioned in the NT)
Acts 18:18 – "After staying there for a considerable time, Paul said farewell to the believers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had his hair cut, for he was under a vow."
Rom 16:1 – "I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church at Cenchreae."
ASIA (MINOR) – a heavily populated region (modern-day South-Western Turkey) with many famous cities, including most of the "Seven Cities of Revelation" (Rev 2–3); its ancient center was in Pergamum, while its capital in Roman times was in Ephesus.
Asia (20x) – as a region and/or Roman Province
during New Testament times
Acts 2:9 [at Pentecost in Jerusalem] – "Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,"
Acts 6:9 – "Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen."
Acts 16:6 – "They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia."
Acts 19:10 – " This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord."
Acts 19:22 – "So he [Paul] sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he himself stayed for some time longer in Asia."
Acts 19:26-27 – "You also see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost the whole of Asia this Paul has persuaded and drawn away a considerable number of people by saying that gods made with hands are not gods. / And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be scorned, and she will be deprived of her majesty that brought all Asia and the world to worship her."
Acts 19:31 – "even some officials of the province of Asia, who were friendly to him, sent him a message urging him not to venture into the theater."
Acts 20:4 – "He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Beroea, by Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, by Gaius from Derbe, and by Timothy, as well as by Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia."
Acts 20:16-18 – "For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia; he was eager to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost. / From Miletus he sent a message to Ephesus, asking the elders of the church to meet him. / When they came to him, he said to them: 'You yourselves know how I lived among you the entire time from the first day that I set foot in Asia,' "
Acts 21:27 – "When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, who had seen him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd. They seized him,"
Acts 24:19 – "But there were some Jews from Asia-- they ought to be here before you to make an accusation, if they have anything against me."
Acts 27:2 – "Embarking on a ship of Adramyttium that was about to set sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica."
Rom 16:5 – "Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert in Asia for Christ."
1 Cor 16:19 – " The churches of Asia send greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, greet you warmly in the Lord."
2 Cor 1:8 – "We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of the affliction we experienced in Asia; for we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself."
2 Tim 1:15 – "You are aware that all who are in Asia have turned away from me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes."
1 Pet 1:1 – "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,"
Rev 1:4 – " John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,"
Rev 1:11 – "Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamum, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea."
Rev 2:1 – "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands:"
Rev 2:8 – "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of the first and the last, who was dead and came to life:"
Rev 2:12 – "And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword:"
Rev 2:18 – "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze:" (cf. 2:24)
Rev 3:1 – "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works; you have a name of being alive, but you are dead." (cf. 3:4)
Rev 3:7 – "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens:"
Rev 3:14 – "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the origin of God's creation:"
Thyatira is also named in Acts 16:14 as the native city of Lydia, whom Paul and his companions encountered in Philippi:
"A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul."
Ephesus (17x; and 4x Ephesian/Ephesians) – major Pauline missionary base in mid-50's, and continuing long after Paul's death; it was later also a center of Johannine Christianity
In the NT, the Letter to the Ephesians may have been written by Paul near the end of his life; but many scholars think it was written after his death by one of his followers, possibly from Ephesus to other Pauline churches.
Paul's own activity in Ephesus is described extensively, with several fascinating episodes, in Acts 18:19-21 and 19:1-41.
Acts 18:19-21 – "When they reached Ephesus, he left them there, but first he himself went into the synagogue and had a discussion with the Jews. / When they asked him to stay longer, he declined; / but on taking leave of them, he said, 'I will return to you, if God wills.' Then he set sail from Ephesus."
Acts 18:24 – "Now there came to Ephesus a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria. He was an eloquent man, well-versed in the scriptures."
Acts 19:1 – "While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples."
Acts 19:17 – "When this became known to all residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, everyone was awestruck; and the name of the Lord Jesus was praised."
Acts 19:26-28 – "You also see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost the whole of Asia this Paul has persuaded and drawn away a considerable number of people by saying that gods made with hands are not gods. / And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be scorned, and she will be deprived of her majesty that brought all Asia and the world to worship her."
/ When they heard this, they were enraged and shouted, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"
Acts 19:34-35 – "But when they recognized that he [Alexander] was a Jew, for about two hours all of them shouted in unison, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" / But when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, "Citizens of Ephesus, who is there that does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the temple keeper of the great Artemis and of the statue that fell from heaven?"
Acts 20:16-18 – (see "Asia" above)
Acts 21:29 – "For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city [Jerusalem], and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple."
1 Cor 15:32 – "If with merely human hopes I fought with wild animals at Ephesus, what would I have gained by it? If the dead are not raised, 'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.' "
1 Cor 16:8-9 – "But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, / for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries."
Eph 1:1 – "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are [in Ephesus and are] faithful in Christ Jesus:"
1 Tim 1:3 – "I urge you, as I did when I was on my way to Macedonia, to remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach any different doctrine,"
2 Tim 1:18 – "may the Lord grant that he [Onesiphorus] will find mercy from the Lord on that day! And you know very well how much service he rendered in Ephesus."
2 Tim 4:12 – "I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus."
Colossae (1x) & Laodicea (7x) & Hierapolis (1x) – Paul (or some of his followers) founded churches and wrote letters to the Christians in these cities in Asia Minor
Paul wrote a Letter to the Colossians, in which he also mentions a letter (now lost) that he had written to the Laodiceans.
Col 1:1-2 – "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, / To the saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father."
Col 2:1 – "For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you [Colossians], and for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me face to face."
Col 4:13-16 – "For I testify for him [Epaphroditus] that he has worked hard for you [in Colossae] and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. / Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you. / Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. / And when this letter has been read among you [Colossians], have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you read also the letter from Laodicea."
Miletus
(3x) – a smaller port town, visited by Paul on his way back to Jerusalem; he met the "elders of the church" of Ephesus there
Acts 20:15-17 – "We sailed from there [Mitylene], and on the following day we arrived opposite Chios. The next day we touched at Samos, and the day after that we came to Miletus. / For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia; he was eager to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost. / From Miletus he sent a message to Ephesus, asking the elders of the church to meet him."
[Paul's speech to these elders continues until Acts 20:38]
2 Tim 4:20 – "Erastus remained in Corinth; Trophimus I left ill in Miletus."
Patmos – a small island in the Aegean Sea that was evidently part of the Roman Province of Asia (see below)
GREEK ISLANDS in the AEGEAN SEA:
Samothrace (1x) –
an island in the NE part of the Aegean; Paul, Silas, and Timothy stopped there one night
Acts 16:11-12 – "Setting sail therefore from Troas [NW Turkey], we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis" [SE Macedonia]
Mitylene (1x; capital of the island of Lesbos), Chios (1x; city & island), Samos (1x; city & island) –
islands off the western coast of Turkey, visited briefly by Paul
Acts 20:13-15 – "We went ahead to the ship [in Troas] and set sail for Assos [coastal city in NW Turkey], intending to take Paul on board there; for he had made this arrangement, intending to go by land himself. / When he met us in Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene. / We sailed from there, and on the following day we arrived opposite Chios. The next day we touched at Samos, and the day after that we came to Miletus" [city on the mainland, in SE Asia Minor].
Cos (1x) and Rhodes (1x) –
islands off the SW coast of Turkey, visited briefly by Paul
Acts 21:1 – "When we had parted from them and set sail [from Miletus], we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara" [southern coast of Turkey, ancient Lycia].
Crete (6x) / Cretans (2x) – large Mediterranean island south of the Aegean Sea; visited by Paul on his journey to Rome (Acts 27:7-21); also includes place names Salmone, Fair Havens, Lasea, Phoenix, and the nearby island of Cauda.
Acts 2:11 [at Pentecost in Jerusalem] – "Cretans and Arabs-- in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power."
Acts 27:7-8, 12-16 – "We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind was against us, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. / Sailing past it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea. /... / 12 Since the harbor was not suitable for spending the winter, the majority was in favor of putting to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, where they could spend the winter. It was a harbor of Crete, facing southwest and northwest. / When a moderate south wind began to blow, they thought they could achieve their purpose; so they weighed anchor and began to sail past Crete, close to the shore. / But soon a violent wind, called the northeaster, rushed down from Crete. / Since the ship was caught and could not be turned head-on into the wind, we gave way to it and were driven. / By running under the lee of a small island called Cauda we were scarcely able to get the ship's boat under control."
Acts 27:21 – "Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul then stood up among them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and thereby avoided this damage and loss."
Titus 1:5 – "I [Paul] left you behind in Crete for this reason, so that you should put in order what remained to be done, and should appoint elders in every town, as I directed you:"
Titus 1:12 – "It was one of them, their very own prophet, who said, 'Cretans are always liars, vicious brutes, lazy gluttons.' "
Today's cruise ships often visit Herakleion (northern shore of Crete) and the nearby ruins of the Minoan Palace of Knossos
Patmos(1x) –
small island SW of Ephesus (between the larger islands of Samos and Cos/Kos); where an early Christian named "John" wrote the Book of Revelation.
Rev 1:9 – "I, John, your brother who share with you in Jesus the persecution and the kingdom and the patient endurance, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus."
Aegean Sea Islands often visited on modern cruises, but not mentioned in the Bible:
