Iconium



Iconium was at the center of a very large territory. The plain that stretches away from the city to the north, east, and west contained very fertile soil made productive by streams from the Pisidian mountains. The area was especially known for grains, including wheat, and for orchards of plum and apricots. To the south, the territory of Iconium bordered on Lystra.

The character of the city was Hellenic from about the 3rd century B.C., when it was ruled and Hellenized by the Seleucid kings of Syria. According to Ramsay, the Hellenic city was an association of free citizens, taking action voluntarily for the common good by choosing individuals out of their number to whom they should entrust for a limited time certain powers to be exercised for the benefit of the whole city, leaving the individual citizen free and uncontrolled except in so far as all by common consent curtailed their own rights in order to make the city safer and strong....The free inhabitants were not villagers, but citizens of the city, and they shared in the political rights of the State. In 25 B.C., Iconium was incorporated into the Roman Empire as a city belonging to the province of Galatia. Rome’s usual policy was not to introduce Latin language and customs in such cities, but to accept Hellenism as a friendly power. Thus, Luke calls the citizens of Iconium “Hellenes.” It is therefore one of the many slight and almost accidental examples of accuracy in details, which abound in the book of the Acts, that Luke gives the name Hellenes to the population of Iconium, alone among the Galatian cities.

The unbelieving Jews did not approach the leading citizens of Iconium. Instead, they created a public argument aimed at disaffecting the masses. Paul was expelled from Pisidian Antioch by the city’s leading men and women (expected behavior from Roman aristocracy). He was expelled from Iconium by a mob. There was no ruling oligarchy in Iconium, like the Roman colonists in Antioch. Iconium was a Hellenic city, where the power lay in the hands of the whole body of citizens. In Antioch Paul’s Jewish enemies accomplished their object by appealing privately to the oligarchy through the ladies of high rank who were within the influence of the Synagogue. In Iconium they gained the same end by gradually working on the feelings of the masses. Thus, according to Luke, there was an initial objection toPaul’s message by “unbelieving Jews [who] stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren” (Acts 14:2). Then followed a long period of successful work:
Following this period of successful preaching, a second riot broke out that caused Paul and Barnabas to flee to Lystra, Derbe, and other cities of the region where they continued to
preach the gospel.

The disaffection of part of the citizens of Iconium (Gentiles and Jews) came about gradually. Where an agency of authority existed to hinder the missionary work, the seeds of opposition grew quickly and moved decisively as they did at Antioch, and as they did in Jerusalem in the last days of Jesus’ life. Otherwise, the seeds of opposition grew and matured gradually until they garnered enough strength in themselves to perpetrate such an ignoble work–the case at Iconium.

Paul’s long residence in Iconium made it an influential center from which the gospel spread to other areas of the central Asian plateau. This also resulted from the city’s location
on or near the main lines of communication between Rome and Syria.

Bible Study (Iconium)

Acts 14:1-7, 21; 16:1-4; 18:23. Paul visited Iconium on his first and second missionary journeys, and possibly on his third missionary journey.
Acts 14:19. Unbelieving Jews from Pisidian Antioch and Iconium followed Paul to Lystra, persuaded the people against Paul, saw him stoned, and left him for dead outside the city.
2 Tim. 3:11. Paul tells Timothy about being persecuted in Galatia.
Galatians. The letter to the Galatians was probably directed to the Christian churches in Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, and Pisidian Antioch.
1 Pet. 1:1. Peter’s first epistle was probably sent to the churches in Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, and Pisidian Antioch.




Acts 14:1-6
1: And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. 
2: But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren. 
3: Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 
4: But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 
5: And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them, 
6: They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about: 

Acts 16:1-4
1: Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: 
2: Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. 
3: Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek. 
4: And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. 

Acts 18:22-23
22: And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch. 
23: And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.