Phoenicia was a region along the Mediterranean coast, north of Israel, known for its maritime trade and mentioned in the New Testament in connection with the spread of the gospel.
Also known as Phenice
Phoenicia was an ancient region and civilization located along the Mediterranean coast, primarily in modern-day Lebanon and parts of Syria and Israel. The Phoenicians were known for their maritime skills, extensive trade networks, and their development of the alphabet. In the New Testament, Phoenicia is mentioned in the context of the early spread of Christianity. After the persecution that arose following Stephen's death, some believers traveled as far as Phoenicia, preaching the gospel (Act.11.19). Later, when Paul and Barnabas were returning from the Jerusalem Council, they passed through Phoenicia, bringing joy to the believers there (Act.15.3). During Paul's final journey to Jerusalem, he sailed to Tyre, a city in Phoenicia, where he stayed with disciples for seven days (Act.21.2-4). Although the Phoenicians are not mentioned extensively in the Bible, their region played a role in the spread of the gospel in the early church era.
Approximate location: 33.563, 35.366 · view on a map · on the Bible atlas
PHOENI'CIA, a country north of Palestine, so named by the Greeks, either from the abundance of palm trees or from Phoenix, the brother of Cadmus. It was a narrow strip of country between the Lebanon mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. It varied in extent at different periods, sometimes extending about 30 miles from the "Ladder of Tyre" to the Nahr Auly, 2 miles north of Sidon, and sometimes about 120 miles north of the "Ladder of Tyre." Along the shore it was sandy, but behind this sand-belt was fertile land, and upon the slopes of the mountain good pasture and excellent timber. Promonotories jut out into the sea, making good harbors and sites for towns, as at Tyre, Sidon. and Beirut. The country is well watered, its principal rivers being the Leontes, Bostrenus, Lycus, or "dog river," Adonis, and Eleutherus. Its principal towns are Arvad, Tripoli, Beirut, Sidon, and Tyre. Phoenicia was included in the Land of Promise, but it was not occupied by the Israelites. Josh 13:4-6; Jud 1:31-32. David and Solomon traded with its king, receiving timber from its territory, and employing its sailors, laborers, and skilled workmen. 2 Sam 5:11; 1 Kgs 5:9, 1 Kgs 5:17-18. Ahab married a princess of this country, and there Elijah found a refuge. 1 Kgs 16:31; 1 Kgs 17:9; Luke 4:26. Jesus also visited this country - the only time he passed the borders of Palestine. Matt 15:21; Mark 7:26. Paul visited Tyre, Sidon, and Ptolemais. Acts 21:2-3, 1 Kgs 15:7; 1 Sam 27:3. The name "Phoenicia" does not occur in the O.T.; in the N.T. it appears once as "Phoenicia" and twice as "Phenice." Acts 21:2; Josh 11:19; Acts 15:3. There are numerous prophecies in the O.T., however, concerning the overthrow of cities in this country, which have been signally fulfilled. See Tyre and Sidon. Present Condition.…
PHOENI'CIA, a country north of Palestine, so named by the Greeks, either from the abundance of palm trees or from Phoenix, the brother of Cadmus. It was a narrow strip of country between the Lebanon mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. It varied in extent at different periods, sometimes extending about 30 miles from the "Ladder of Tyre" to the Nahr Auly, 2 miles north of Sidon, and sometimes about 120 miles north of the "Ladder of Tyre." Along the shore it was sandy, but behind this sand-belt was fertile land, and upon the slopes of the mountain good pasture and excellent timber. Promonotories jut out into the sea, making good harbors and sites for towns, as at Tyre, Sidon. and Beirut. The country is well watered, its principal rivers being the Leontes, Bostrenus, Lycus, or "dog river," Adonis, and Eleutherus. Its principal towns are Arvad, Tripoli, Beirut, Sidon, and Tyre. Phoenicia was included in the Land of Promise, but it was not occupied by the Israelites. Josh 13:4-6; Jud 1:31-32. David and Solomon traded with its king, receiving timber from its territory, and employing its sailors, laborers, and skilled workmen. 2 Sam 5:11; 1 Kgs 5:9, 1 Kgs 5:17-18. Ahab married a princess of this country, and there Elijah found a refuge. 1 Kgs 16:31; 1 Kgs 17:9; Luke 4:26. Jesus also visited this country - the only time he passed the borders of Palestine. Matt 15:21; Mark 7:26. Paul visited Tyre, Sidon, and Ptolemais. Acts 21:2-3, 1 Kgs 15:7; 1 Sam 27:3. The name "Phoenicia" does not occur in the O.T.; in the N.T. it appears once as "Phoenicia" and twice as "Phenice." Acts 21:2; Josh 11:19; Acts 15:3. There are numerous prophecies in the O.T., however, concerning the overthrow of cities in this country, which have been signally fulfilled. See Tyre and Sidon. Present Condition.…
Easton (1897), Smith (1863), Hitchcock (1869), Hastings (1898) and Schaff are in the public domain. Parsed text: neuu-org/bible-dictionary-dataset (CC BY 4.0). Headwords and whitespace normalised for this site.
3 verses in 1 book · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s G5403
Meanwhile those scattered by the persecution that began with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message only to Jews.
Sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers.
Finding a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we boarded it and set sail.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.