Achaia

Achaia was the Roman province of southern Greece, governed from Corinth and including Athens and the port of Cenchrea. Paul spent a year and six months there on his second missionary journey, and when the Jews brought him to the judgment seat while Gallio was deputy of Achaia, the proconsul refused to judge the case, leaving Paul free to continue his work. An inscription found at Delphi dates Gallio's term to about AD 51-52, one of the firmest anchors for the chronology of Paul's life. Apollos later went to Achaia and helped the believers greatly. Paul addressed his second letter to the church at Corinth 'with all the saints which are in all Achaia,' and he praised the churches of Achaia, together with those of Macedonia, for their gift to the poor saints at Jerusalem.

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Details

Region: Greece/Rome
Modern Location: Southern and central Greece, including the Peloponnese, with its capital at Corinth

Strongest connections in Scripture

Acts 18 2× 2 Corinthians 1 Romans 15

Journey Paths

Apollos's Journey

Ephesus → Corinth → Achaia

Sosthenes's Journey

Corinth → Achaia

Key Passages

Paul Before Gallio

Acts 18:11-17

A Roman governor's refusal to hear the case protects the young church at Corinth.

A¹¹nd he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

¹² And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat, ¹³ Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law. ¹⁴ And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you: ¹⁵ But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters. ¹⁶ And he drave them from the judgment seat. ¹⁷ Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.

Apollos Goes to Achaia

Acts 18:27

The eloquent Apollos strengthens the believers in Achaia.

A²⁷nd when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:

All the Saints in Achaia

2 Corinthians 1:1

Paul's letter reaches beyond Corinth to believers across the province.

P¹aul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia: