Asia: Is used to denote Proconsular Asia, a Roman province which embraced
the western parts of Asia Minor, and of which Ephesus was the
capital, in
(Acts 2:9; 6:9; 16:6; 19:10,22; 20:4,16,18) etc., and probably
Asia Minor in
(Acts 19:26,27; 21:27; 24:18; 27:2) Proconsular Asia
contained the seven churches of the Apocalypse
(Revelation 1:11) The "chiefs
of Asia"
(Acts 19:31) were certain wealthy citizens who were annually
elected to preside over the games and religious festivals of the
several cities to which they belonged. Some of these "Asiarchs" were
Paul's friends.
