Pamphylia

Pamphylia was a coastal district on the southern shore of Asia Minor (modern Turkey), situated between Lycia to the west and Cilicia to the east, and bounded to the north by the Taurus mountain range. Its principal cities were Perga, Attalia (modern Antalya), and Aspendus. Pamphylians were present in Jerusalem at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended (Acts 2:10), among those who heard the disciples speaking in their own language.

The region features in Paul's first missionary journey: sailing from Cyprus, Paul and Barnabas arrived at Perga in Pamphylia (Acts 13:13), where John Mark departed from the mission and returned to Jerusalem. Paul later revisited Attalia on his return voyage (Acts 14:24–25). Pamphylia appears in the list of provinces subject to Roman governors and is mentioned in connection with the distribution of Maccabean-era correspondence (1 Maccabees 15:23).

Pamphylia’s very name was understood to mean “of every tribe,” and it is fitting that Pamphylians stood among the nations gathered at Pentecost who heard the mighty works of God each in his own tongue (Acts 2:10–11) — a foretaste of the gospel that would soon reach their own shores. Yet Pamphylia is also remembered for a sadder moment: at Perga John Mark turned back and left the work, a desertion that later sharpened the parting of Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:38). Even so, grace had the last word, for Mark was restored and became useful again to Paul (2 Timothy 4:11). So this southern coastland witnesses both to the gathering of the nations to Christ and to the patience by which the Lord restores his stumbling servants.