Greece

Achaia

Meaning
Achaia was the name of the Roman province in the south of Greece, with Corinth as its main city and the seat of Roman government. It was there that Paul founded some of the most important churches of the New Testament and faced trial before the proconsul Gallio.
About the place

Achaia was the name of the Roman province that covered mainland southern Greece and the Peloponnese, with Corinth as its main city and the seat of Roman government.

The apostle Paul arrived there during his second missionary journey and stayed about a year and a half teaching the word of God (Acts 18:11).

In Corinth, the capital of Achaia, Jews brought Paul before the tribunal of the Roman proconsul Gallio, accusing him of teaching worship contrary to the law. Gallio refused to judge the case, considering it an internal dispute over the Jewish religion.

After Paul, the preacher Apollos went to Achaia and greatly helped those who had already believed, debating with the Jews in public. The household of Stephanas was remembered as the first fruit of faith in the region.

The churches of Achaia, alongside those of Macedonia, contributed an offering for the poor Christians in Jerusalem, a gesture Paul cites as an example of generosity.

Paul addressed two of his letters to this region: the first epistle to the Corinthians and the second, addressed explicitly to all the saints throughout Achaia.

Key verses

While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment.

Acts 18:12

You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord’s people.

1 Corinthians 16:15

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all his holy people throughout Achaia:

2 Corinthians 1:1

What happened here

Paul is brought before Gallio's court

In Corinth, the capital of Achaia, Jews accused Paul before the Roman proconsul Gallio, who refused to judge a matter he saw as internal to the Jewish religion.

Acts 18:12-16

Apollos strengthens the believers of Achaia

After Paul, the preacher Apollos went to Achaia and was a great help to those who had already believed, publicly refuting the Jews.

Acts 18:27-28

The household of Stephanas, first fruits of Achaia

Paul reminds the church that the family of Stephanas were the first converts in the region, devoted to serving God's people.

1 Corinthians 16:15

The churches of Achaia give to the poor in Jerusalem

Together with the churches of Macedonia, the Christians of Achaia gathered an offering for the poor among the believers in Jerusalem.

Romans 15:26
Timeline
around AD 51

Paul arrives in Corinth and begins teaching in Achaia

around AD 51-52

Jews bring Paul before the court of the proconsul Gallio

around AD 52-53

Apollos arrives in Achaia and strengthens the church

around AD 55-57

The churches of Achaia give to the poor in Jerusalem

People linked to this place
G

Gallio

Roman proconsul who refused to judge Paul

P

Paul

Founded and taught the church in Achaia

A

Apollos

Strengthened the believers of the region

S

Stephanas

First fruits of faith in Achaia

S

Sosthenes

Synagogue leader beaten at the court

Books where it appears

Acts

Tells of Paul's arrival and the episode with Gallio

Romans

Mentions the offering from Achaia for the poor in Jerusalem

1 Corinthians

Letter written to the church in Corinth, in Achaia

2 Corinthians

Addressed to all the holy people throughout Achaia

1 Thessalonians

Mentions Achaia as an example of faith that spread

The place today
The place today

The ancient Roman province of Achaia corresponds today to southern mainland Greece and the Peloponnese. Corinth, its main city in Paul's day, still exists as a modern city near the ruins of the ancient site.

The region also gave its name to an administrative unit of present-day Greece, also called Achaia, whose capital is Patras, in the northwest of the Peloponnese.

Greece today has a strong Orthodox Christian heritage, but it faces growing secularization and has few active evangelical churches. Pray for the Greek people, that the faith that flourished in ancient Achaia would be renewed in a new generation.

Pray for this nation today: Grécia

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