Understanding Ἀττάλεια (Attaleia) Strong’s G825: The Ancient Port City Where Paul’s Gospel Journey Continued

Pronunciation Guide: at-TAL-ee-ah

Basic Definition

Strong’s G825: Ἀττάλεια (Attaleia) was an important seaport city on the southern coast of Asia Minor (modern Turkey) in the region of Pamphylia. Named after its founder King Attalus II of Pergamum, it served as a significant maritime hub for trade and travel in the eastern Mediterranean during the first century. The Apostle Paul and Barnabas passed through this port city during their first missionary journey as recorded in the book of Acts.

Etymology and Morphology

• Proper noun (place name)
• Derived from the name of King Attalus II Philadelphus of Pergamum (159-138 BCE)
• Used in historical narrative sections of the New Testament
• Appears only once in the New Testament
• Greek transliteration of a name with Hellenistic royal origins

Ἀττάλεια Morphology:

• Ἀττάλεια (nominative singular) – Attaleia (as subject)
• Ἀτταλείας (genitive singular) – of Attaleia
• Ἀτταλείᾳ (dative singular) – in/at Attaleia
• Ἀττάλειαν (accusative singular) – to Attaleia

Origin & History

The name Ἀττάλεια derives directly from King Attalus II Philadelphus of the Attalid dynasty, who founded the city around 150 BCE as a port for the kingdom of Pergamum. The “-εια” suffix in Greek often denotes a city or settlement named after an individual, similar to how Alexandria was named after Alexander the Great. This naming convention was common during the Hellenistic period when Greek culture and language dominated the eastern Mediterranean world.

The city maintained its importance throughout Roman times, becoming a vital link in maritime commerce. Strabo, in his “Geography” (14.4.1), mentions Attaleia as a significant settlement in Pamphylia. During the time of Paul’s journey, it would have been a bustling port under Roman administration, having been incorporated into the province of Pamphylia. The city continued to flourish after New Testament times, as evidenced by Aelius Aristides in his “Roman Oration,” where he praises the extensive harbor facilities of various cities including Attaleia.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• A significant Mediterranean seaport in ancient Pamphylia
• An administrative center in the Roman province system
• A strategic point of maritime transit in the eastern Mediterranean
• A city named in honor of a Hellenistic monarch

Ἀττάλεια Translation Options:

• Attalia – Traditional English rendering found in the King James Version, maintaining closer phonetic resemblance to the Greek
• Attaleia – More precise transliteration of the Greek name, preserving the diphthong
• Antalya – Modern Turkish name of the city, useful for contemporary geographical reference
• “City of Attalus” – Descriptive translation that emphasizes the etymological origin of the name

Biblical Usage

Ἀττάλεια appears only once in the New Testament, in Acts 14:25, where Paul and Barnabas passed through after preaching in Perga. The city functions as a transitional geographical marker in Luke’s carefully constructed narrative of the first missionary journey. Its mention serves to document the apostles’ route as they prepared to return to Antioch in Syria.

The singular mention of Attaleia is significant when we consider Luke’s careful attention to geographical details throughout Acts. Luke frequently names specific locations to authenticate his historical account and to demonstrate the gospel’s progress throughout the Mediterranean world. Unlike other cities where Paul established churches or faced significant opposition, Attaleia appears to have been primarily a point of transit rather than a focus of extended ministry.

• “When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attaleia [Ἀττάλειαν].” Acts 14:25

Cultural Insights

As a port city founded during the Hellenistic period, Attaleia represented the intersection of commercial, cultural, and political currents in the ancient Mediterranean world. The city would have featured typical Greco-Roman urban architecture, including a forum, temples, theaters, and public buildings. Its harbor was artificially constructed with breakwaters and docking facilities that allowed maritime commerce to flourish. Paul and Barnabas would have encountered a cosmopolitan population including Greek-speaking merchants, Roman officials, sailors from various parts of the Mediterranean, and local Pamphylians.

During the first century CE, Attaleia was under Roman control as part of the province of Pamphylia. It served as one of several administrative centers in the region, with a local government likely structured according to the Roman municipal system with magistrates, a council (boule), and some form of popular assembly. As a port city, it would have had customs officials, harbormaster offices, and warehousing facilities. The presence of these imperial structures provides important contextual understanding of the environment through which Paul and Barnabas traveled. Their journey through Attaleia represents the gospel moving through established Roman infrastructure—utilizing the very systems of the empire to spread the message of the Messiah.

Theological Significance

The mention of Ἀττάλεια, though brief, serves as a powerful reminder of how יהוה (Yahweh) used the established pathways of commerce and imperial infrastructure to advance His kingdom purposes. While the city was named after a pagan king who claimed divine honors (as was common in the Hellenistic ruler cult), it became a waypoint in the divine plan to spread the message of the true King, Yeshua the Messiah. This illustrates how the sovereign God often appropriates human structures and systems for His redemptive purposes.

Paul’s journey through Attaleia also demonstrates the comprehensive nature of God’s salvation plan, which extends to all nations and peoples. The port city represented a gateway between cultures, languages, and peoples—symbolic of how the gospel would break down dividing walls between Jew and Gentile, as Paul would later articulate in his epistles (especially in Ephesians 2:14-16). The inclusion of this geographical detail in Luke’s account emphasizes the historical reality of the gospel narrative and the tangible, geographical progression of God’s redemptive work moving outward from Jerusalem, just as Yeshua had commanded in Acts 1:8.

Personal Application

When we read about places like Attaleia in Scripture, we are reminded that God’s work happens in real places with real people. The gospel is not an abstract philosophy but a message that travels on roads, crosses seas, and enters cities. Just as Paul and Barnabas used the available transportation networks of their day to advance the gospel, we too should consider how we might leverage the systems and structures of our world—technology, transportation, commerce, education—to further God’s kingdom.

Moreover, Attaleia serves as a reminder that some places in our spiritual journeys may be transitory—places we pass through rather than dwell in. Not every location in our walk with God is meant to be a destination; some are passageways to what comes next. If you find yourself in an “Attaleia moment,” a transition point rather than a place of extended ministry, take heart in knowing that these passages are part of God’s larger narrative for your life and for His kingdom.

Related Words

• Πέργη (Pergē, PER-gē) – Another city in Pamphylia visited by Paul, mentioned immediately before Attaleia in the narrative. Unlike Attaleia, Paul preached the word in Perga, showing different purposes for different locations in the missionary journey. See G4011
• Παμφυλία (Pamphylia, pam-FIL-ee-ah) – The Roman province where Attaleia was located, encompassing a coastal plain in southern Asia Minor bounded by mountains to the north. Understanding this broader region helps contextualize Attaleia’s strategic position. See G3828
• Ἀντιόχεια (Antiocheia, an-tee-OCK-ee-ah) – The city to which Paul and Barnabas returned after passing through Attaleia, a major center of early Christianity and the starting point of their missionary journey. Similar to Attaleia, it was named after a Hellenistic monarch. See G490
• Πάταρα (Patara, PAT-ah-rah) – Another important port city mentioned in Paul’s journeys (Acts 21:1), serving a similar function to Attaleia as a maritime transit point in Paul’s missionary travels. See G3959
• Μύρα (Myra, MIR-ah) – A significant port city in Lycia, near Pamphylia, mentioned in Paul’s journey to Rome (Acts 27:5), which like Attaleia played a role in maritime transportation in the eastern Mediterranean. See G3460

Did you Know?

• The ancient city of Attaleia has been continuously inhabited since its founding and exists today as the modern city of Antalya, Turkey’s fifth-largest city and a major tourist destination. Many archaeological remains from the Roman period can still be seen there, including Hadrian’s Gate and parts of the ancient harbor. This continuity offers a tangible connection to the biblical world and the footsteps of Paul.
• The harbor at Attaleia was specially designed with breakwaters to protect ships from the prevailing southwesterly winds, making it one of the safest natural harbors in the region. This engineering achievement helps explain why Paul and Barnabas would have chosen this port for their return journey rather than departing directly from Perga, which had less favorable harbor conditions.
• Attaleia stood at the terminus of the ancient Via Sebaste, a Roman road that connected the Pisidian highlands with the Mediterranean coast. This road system, built under Augustus Caesar, facilitated travel and communication throughout the province and would have been used by Paul during his journeys in the region. This illustrates how Roman infrastructure literally paved the way for the gospel’s spread throughout the empire.

Remember This

Ἀττάλεια stands as a testament to how God weaves even seemingly minor geographical waypoints into His grand narrative of redemption, using human cities, roads, and harbors as vessels for carrying the eternal message of His Son.