Cilicia: A maritime province in the south-east of Asia Minor. Tarsus, the
birth-place of Paul, was one of its chief towns, and the seat of a
celebrated school of philosophy. Its luxurious climate attracted to
it many Greek residents after its incorporation with the Macedonian
empire. It was formed into a Roman province, B.C. 67 The Jews of
Cilicia had a synagogue at Jerusalem
(Acts 6:9) Paul visited it soon
after his conversion
(Galatians 1:21; Acts 9:30) and again, on his second
missionary journey
(Acts 15:41) "he went through Syria and Cilicia,
confirming the churches." It was famous for its goat's-hair cloth,
called cilicium. Paul learned in his youth the trade of making tents
of this cloth.
