Perga — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

City probably of very early Greek origin and the religious capital of ancient Pamphylia. In the second century BC, the Romans overthrew a Syrian garrison there, and thereafter the city apparently had a substantial degree of independence from external control.

On their first missionary journey, Paul and his colleagues passed through the city on their way to Pisidian Antioch. The Acts of the Apostles reports no preaching activity on that occasion but notes only that it was at Perga that John Mark left his companions and returned to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13-14).

Show passage in OET: ACT 13:13–14

OET-RV ACT 13:13

13 After that, Paulos and his companions sailed from Pafos to Pergai in Pamfulia, but Yohan (John; Grk. Yoannes) Markos (John Mark) left them and returned to Yerushalem (Jerusalem).

OET-RV ACT 13:14

14 Paulos and his companions, went on from Pergai to Pisidian Antiokeia, where they entered the Jewish meeting hall on the Rest Day and sat down with the congregation.

OET-LV ACT 13:13

13 And the ones around him Paulos having _been _launched from the Pafos, came to Pergaʸ of_ the _Pamfulia.
But Yōannaʸs having _went _away from them, he _returned to Hierousalaʸm/(Yərūshālayim).

OET-LV ACT 13:14

14 But they, having _passed _through from the Pergaʸ, arrived to Antioⱪeia the Pisidia, and having _come into the synagogue on _the day of _the days _of _rest, they _sat _down.

Jump to OET ACT 13:13–14 section.

If we assume that Luke would have recorded the fact that Paul had preached during this visit, we can only speculate why he did not do so. The presence nearby of a renowned temple of Artemis, an Anatolian nature goddess, would surely have challenged rather than deterred him. The apostle may have been ill (some commentators suggest a possible connection with the reference in Gal 4:13), but in that case we might have expected Barnabas to have taken his place. It has been suggested that at this point the group had disagreed about outreach to and acceptance of Gentiles, and that it was his differences with Paul (and perhaps his resentment at the latter’s leadership) that precipitated John Mark’s departure.

Show passage in OET: GAL 4:13

OET-RV GAL 4:13

13 but you know that it was a result of my fleshly weakness that I originally preached the good message to you.

OET-LV GAL 4:13

13 but you _all _have _known that because _of weakness of _the flesh, I _good _message _preached to _you _all the earlier.

Jump to OET GAL 4:13 section.

On the homeward journey, however, Paul and Barnabas “preached the word in Perga” before going on down to Attalia, where they took a ship to Antioch of Syria (Acts 14:25-26). The results from that preaching are not known, but it is evident that Christianity did not flourish in Perga, as it did in other cities of Asia Minor.