G825
Ἀττάλεια
Attaleia, a place in Pamphylia
Transliteration
AttáleiaPronunciation
(at-tal'-i-ah)Everything you need to know.
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Attaleia, a place in Pamphylia
Ἀττάλεια(Attáleia)
Strong’s Definition
Attaleia, a place in Pamphylia
from (a king of Pergamus);
“And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia:”
No verses found containing this word study ID.
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
Ἀττάλεια Morphology:
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
Ἀττάλεια Translation Options:
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.
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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.
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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.