Pontus

Pontus (meaning sea) was a province of Asia Minor stretching along the southern coast of the Black Sea (Euxine Sea), corresponding roughly to the modern Turkish region of Trabzon (Trebizond). In New Testament times it was a Roman province with a significant Jewish population. Jews from Pontus were present at Jerusalem on Pentecost and heard the first apostolic sermon (Acts 2:9). The tentmaker Aquila, who with his wife Priscilla became Paul's close co-workers, was a native of Pontus (Acts 18:2). Peter addressed his first letter to Christians dispersed throughout various provinces including Pontus (1 Pet. 1:1), indicating an established Christian community there.