Cilicia

Cilicia is a region Paul passes through again and again. Acts 15 says he “went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches,” and the letter from the Jerusalem leaders is addressed to the brethren “of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.” The last mention is a voyage: in Acts 27, with Paul sailing as a prisoner, the ship crossed “the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia” and came to Myra. So the verses show believers living there, a visit to strengthen them, and a ship hugging its coast. Read Acts 15:36 to 41.

3 verses

Acts

Acts 15:23

And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

Acts 15:41

And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

Acts 27:5

And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.

From Easton's Bible Dictionary

Matthew George Easton, 1897

A maritime province in the south-east of Asia Minor. Tarsus, the birth-place of Paul, was one of its chief towns, and the seat of a celebrated school of philosophy. Its luxurious climate attracted to it many Greek residents after its incorporation with the Macedonian empire. It was formed into a Roman province, B.C. 67. The Jews of Cilicia had a synagogue at Jerusalem (Acts 6:9). Paul visited it soon after his conversion (Gal. 1:21; Acts 9:30), and again, on his second missionary journey (15:41), “he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.” It was famous for its goat’s-hair cloth, called cilicium. Paul learned in his youth the trade of making tents of this cloth.

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From Smith's Bible Dictionary

William Smith, 1884

(the land of Celix), a maritime province int he southeast of Asia Minor, bordering on Pamphylia in the west, Lycaonia and Cappadocia in the north, and Syria in the east. (Acts 6:9) Cilicia was from its geographical position the high road between Syria and the west; it was also the native country of St. Paul, hence it was visited by him, firstly, soon after his conversion, (Acts 9:30; Galatians 1:21) and again in his second apostolical journey. (Acts 15:41)