3828. Pamphulia
Lexical Summary
Pamphulia: Pamphylia

Original Word: Παμφυλία
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: Pamphulia
Pronunciation: pam-foo-LEE-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (pam-fool-ee'-ah)
KJV: Pamphylia
NASB: Pamphylia
Word Origin: [from a compound of G3956 (πᾶς - all) and G4443 (πυρά - fire)]

1. every-tribal, i.e. heterogeneous (having foreign origin)
2. Pamphylia, a region of Asia Minor
{G5561 being implied}

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Pamphylia.

From a compound of pas and pura; every-tribal, i.e. Heterogeneous (chora being implied); Pamphylia, a region of Asia Minor -- Pamphylia.

see GREEK pas

see GREEK pura

see GREEK chora

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from a comp. of pas and phulé
Definition
Pamphylia, a province of Asia Minor
NASB Translation
Pamphylia (5).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 3828: Παμφυλία

Παμφυλία, Παμφυλίας, , Pamphylia, a province of Asia Minor, bounded on the east by Cilicia, on the Winer's Grammar, by Lycia and Phrygia Minor, on the north by Galatia and Cappadocia, and on the south by the Mediterranean Sea (there called the Sea (or Gulf) of Pamphylia (now of Adalia)): Acts 2:10; Acts 13:13; Acts 14:24; Acts 15:38; Acts 27:5. (Conybeare and Howson, St. Paul, chapter viii.; Lewin, St. Paul, index under the word; Dict. of Geogr., under the word.)

Topical Lexicon
Geographical Setting

Pamphylia lay on the southern coast of Asia Minor, bordered by Pisidia to the north, Lycia to the west, and Cilicia to the east. Its shoreline, marked by the Gulf of Pamphylia (modern Gulf of Antalya), opened the region to maritime traffic from Cyprus, Egypt, and the wider Mediterranean. Inland, river valleys such as the Cestrus and Eurymedon gave access to a fertile yet narrow coastal plain backed by the rugged Taurus Mountains. Perga, situated about twelve kilometers from the coast on the Cestrus River, was the civil and religious capital, while Attalia (modern Antalya) served as its principal port.

Historical Background

The name “Pamphylia” is often traced to the idea of “all tribes,” reflecting the region’s ethnic mixture: Hittites, Greeks, Persians, Romans, and indigenous Anatolians. By New Testament times it belonged to the Roman province of Galatia-Pamphylia-Pisidia, but administratively it was sometimes grouped with Lycia or Cilicia, depending on imperial reorganization. Greek was the lingua franca, while Latin held official status. The prevalence of mystery cults, the Imperial cult, and local Anatolian deities formed a religious context of syncretism and spiritual hunger into which the gospel arrived.

Pamphylia in the Acts of the Apostles

• Pentecost representation (Acts 2:10): “Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene...” Jews and proselytes from this region heard the apostles declaring “the wonders of God” in their own language, indicating an established Jewish presence that returned home with a living witness to Christ.
• Paul’s first missionary journey (Acts 13:13): John Mark left the team at Perga in Pamphylia and returned to Jerusalem, a decision that later became a point of contention between Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:38). The event highlights Pamphylia as a place of testing early in the expansion of the mission to the Gentiles.
• Follow-up visit (Acts 14:24): After evangelizing cities in Pisidia, Paul and Barnabas “passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia,” demonstrating their commitment to strengthen infant congregations in the region.
• Dispute over Mark (Acts 15:38): Paul “did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia.” The verse underscores that ministry decisions in Pamphylia influenced the makeup of subsequent missionary teams.
• Paul’s voyage to Rome (Acts 27:5): The prisoner-apostle sailed “along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia,” showing the province as part of the established maritime route that eventually brought the gospel to the heart of the empire.

Missiological Significance

1. Gateway Region: Its ports connected Syria-Palestine and the Aegean world, making Pamphylia a strategic bridge for the westward movement of the gospel.
2. Mixed Populations: The name that hints at “all tribes” foreshadows the inclusion of all nations in Christ, illustrating in miniature the broader Gentile mission.
3. Testing Ground for Workers: Mark’s withdrawal at Perga and later restoration (Colossians 4:10; 2 Timothy 4:11) remind the Church that failure in one season can be redeemed in another.
4. Sustained Follow-up: Paul’s return trip through Pamphylia shows that evangelism must be joined to discipleship and organization of local churches.

Lessons for the Church

• Strategic thinking honors providence: Paul’s pattern of entering through coastal centers like Attalia, moving inland, then revisiting illustrates wise stewardship of open doors.
• Cultural diversity invites gospel clarity: In a land of blended beliefs, clear proclamation—“We are proclaiming the good news to you” (Acts 14:15)—cut through syncretism.
• Partnership and perseverance: Barnabas’ desire to give Mark a second chance against Paul’s caution demonstrates the need for both accountability and grace in team formation.
• God’s sovereignty over travel: From Pentecost pilgrims to a storm-tossed prisoner, divine purpose overruled all human movement through Pamphylia, encouraging believers to trust His guidance in global mission.

Key References

Acts 2:10; Acts 13:13; Acts 14:24; Acts 15:38; Acts 27:5

Forms and Transliterations
Παμφυλιαν Παμφυλίαν Παμφυλιας Παμφυλίας πανδημεί Pamphulian Pamphulias Pamphylian Pamphylían Pamphylias Pamphylías
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Englishman's Concordance
Acts 2:10 N-AFS
GRK: τε καὶ Παμφυλίαν Αἴγυπτον καὶ
NAS: Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt
KJV: Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and
INT: both and Pamphylia Egypt and

Acts 13:13 N-GFS
GRK: Πέργην τῆς Παμφυλίας Ἰωάννης δὲ
NAS: to Perga in Pamphylia; but John
KJV: to Perga in Pamphylia: and John
INT: Perga of Pamphylia John however

Acts 14:24 N-AFS
GRK: εἰς τὴν Παμφυλίαν
NAS: Pisidia and came into Pamphylia.
KJV: they came to Pamphylia.
INT: to Pamphylia

Acts 15:38 N-GFS
GRK: αὐτῶν ἀπὸ Παμφυλίας καὶ μὴ
NAS: who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone
KJV: them from Pamphylia, and went
INT: them from Pamphylia and not

Acts 27:5 N-AFS
GRK: Κιλικίαν καὶ Παμφυλίαν διαπλεύσαντες κατήλθομεν
NAS: of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed
KJV: Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to
INT: Cilicia and Pamphylia having sailed over we came

Strong's Greek 3828
5 Occurrences


Παμφυλίαν — 3 Occ.
Παμφυλίας — 2 Occ.

3827
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