"Cilicia, a province of Asia Minor, Gal. 1:21"
Definition and meaning
Cilicia, a province of Asia Minor, Gal. 1:21
In the original Greek the word is written: Κιλικία
Historical context
The Roman Empire provided infrastructure no previous civilization had built — roads, sea routes, a common language in Greek, and relative peace across the Mediterranean. Jewish synagogues existed in every major city, giving Paul a starting point everywhere he traveled. The early church had no buildings, no political power, no social standing — and spread faster than any movement in ancient history.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of kilikia (G2791) across the King James Bible.
Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:
And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.
I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;
And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.
Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;
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Common questions
Strong's G2791 (kilikia) is a Greek word that means: Cilicia, a province of Asia Minor, Gal. 1:21 It appears 8 times in the King James Bible.
The word kilikia (G2791) appears 8 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2791 is kilikia, a Greek word defined as: Cilicia, a province of Asia Minor, Gal. 1:21. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
kilikia is a Greek word found in the New Testament.