ICONIUM

An important agricultural and trade route city (modern Konya) in the Roman province of

Galatia. Although Iconium was a capital for the Lycaonian district (cf. Acts 14:6, 11), inscriptions

indicate that the Phrygian language was also in use there. On his first missionary campaign, Paul

experienced both evangelistic success and opposition at Iconium, forcing him on to Lystra (13:51–

14:6). When Jews from Iconium and Pisidian Antioch rallied the Jews of Lystra against him (Acts

14:19; cf. 2 Tim. 3:11), Paul was attacked and stoned by an angry mob. He then went to Derbe, but he

returned through Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, encouraging the believers (Acts 14:21–23). Paul

visited Iconium again on his second missionary campaign (15:36–16:6) and perhaps on the third as

well (18:23).