Dictionary Home / P

Perga

biblical_place theological_term standard

Perga was an ancient city in Pamphylia mentioned in Acts as a stop on Paul and Barnabas’s first missionary journey.

At a Glance

A real biblical place-name, not a doctrinal term.

Key Points

Description

Perga was an ancient city in the region of Pamphylia, in southern Asia Minor. In the Book of Acts, Paul and Barnabas came through Perga on their first missionary journey, and John Mark left them there to return to Jerusalem. On their return, they again passed through Perga and spoke the word there before continuing on. The city is therefore significant in the biblical narrative mainly as a geographic location connected with the missionary advance of the gospel.

Biblical Context

Acts uses Perga as part of the travel narrative of Paul and Barnabas. It marks an early stage in the spread of the gospel from Jewish and Syrian settings into Gentile regions of Asia Minor.

Historical Context

Perga was an important city in Pamphylia and belonged to the wider Greco-Roman world of Asia Minor. Its appearance in Acts fits the historical setting of first-century missionary travel through Roman road networks and coastal cities.

Jewish and Ancient Context

Perga lies outside Judea and Galilee, showing the movement of the gospel beyond its Jewish homeland into the broader Mediterranean world. In Acts, such locations help trace the transition from Jerusalem-centered ministry to wider Gentile mission.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

From Greek Πέργη (Pergē), a place name referring to the city of Perga.

Theological Significance

Perga itself carries no special doctrine, but its presence in Acts highlights the historical reality of the church’s mission and the outward spread of the gospel in real places and times.

Philosophical Explanation

Place names in Scripture remind readers that biblical revelation is anchored in history and geography, not myth. Perga is meaningful because God’s redemptive work unfolded in actual cities and journeys.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not overstate Perga’s significance. Scripture does not attach a separate theological meaning to the city itself; its importance is narrative and historical.

Major Views

There is little interpretive disagreement about Perga as a biblical place. The main question is its role in the travel sequence of Acts, not any doctrinal meaning attached to it.

Doctrinal Boundaries

Perga should be treated as a geographic reference, not as a symbol or doctrine. Any theological conclusions should come from the surrounding biblical context, not from the place name alone.

Practical Significance

Perga helps readers see how the gospel advanced through ordinary travel, cities, and conversations. It also reminds readers that missionary work often includes seemingly minor stops that are still part of God’s larger plan.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Perga

↑ Top