Dictionary Article

Roman province in northeastern Asia Minor, located along the southern coast of the Black Sea. Galatia, Cappadocia, and Armenia bordered Pontus. About 1000 BC the first Greeks started to colonize the southeastern coast of the Black Sea, founding Sinope and Trebizond. Here Xenophon and his men reached the sea after their great eastern adventure. The famous geographer Strabo, to whom is owed knowledge of the ancient history of Pontus, was born in the inland city of Amasia. Mithridates Eupator, king of Amasia, was, according to the Romans, the most formidable enemy the republic ever encountered. He waged three wars against the Romans until his final defeat by Pompey around 60 BC.

Aquila, the tentmaker who, with his wife, Priscilla, was a helpful coworker of the apostle Paul, was born in Pontus. Unlike Paul, however, he was not a Roman citizen; hence, he was subject to the edict of Claudius and expelled from Rome because he was a Jew (Acts 18:2; 22:25-28).

Show passage in OET: ACT 18:2

OET-RV ACT 18:2

2 There he came across a Yehudi (Jew) named Akulas (Aquila) who had been born in Pontos but who had recently moved from Italia along with his wife Priskilla because Emperor Klaudios had ordered all Yehudim (Jews) to leave Romai. So Paulos approached them,

OET-LV ACT 18:2

2 And having _found a_certain Youdaios by_the_name Akulas, of _Pontos the by _descent, recently having _come from the Italia, and Priskilla wife of _him, because _of the thing Klaudios to _have _directed all the Youdaiōns to _be _being _departed from the Ɽōmaʸ, he _approached to _them,

Show passage in OET: ACT 22:25–28

OET-RV ACT 22:25

25 But as they strapped him down and stretched him out for the flogging, Paulos asked the centurion standing there, “It is legal for you to flog a Romaios citizen who hasn’t even been tried?”

OET-RV ACT 22:26

26 When he heard that, the centurion went to the commander and reported, “How are we going to handle this, because this man is a Romaios citizen?”

OET-RV ACT 22:27

27 So the commander went in to where Paulos was and asked him, “Tell me the truth. Are you a Romaios citizen?”
¶ “Yes I am,” said Paulos.

OET-RV ACT 22:28

28 “Yeah, and I paid a lot for mine as well,” mocked the commander.
¶ “Actually mine is through birth,” Paulos responded.

OET-LV ACT 22:25

25 But as they _stretched_ him _out with _the straps, the Paulos said to the centurion having _stood, is _it _permitting to _you _all to _be _flogging if a_man Ɽōmaios and uncondemned?

OET-LV ACT 22:26

26 And having _heard it the centurion, having _approached to _the commander, he _reported saying:
What are _you _going to _be _doing?
For/Because the this man is a_Ɽōmaios.

OET-LV ACT 22:27

27 And having _approached, the commander said to _him:
Be _telling to _me, are you a_Ɽōmaios?
And he was _saying:
Yes.

OET-LV ACT 22:28

28 and the commander answered:
I this the acquired citizenship of_a_great sum.
But the Paulos was _saying:
But I even have _been _born free.

Jump to OET ACT 18:2 section.

Jump to OET ACT 22:25–28 section.

The Christians who were resident there in Peter’s day (1 Pt 1:1) were probably converts of those who returned from Jerusalem after the first Pentecost when Peter spoke (Acts 2:9).

Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary