Meaning of GALATIA

Central district of Asia Minor, limited to the north by Bithynia, Paphlagonia and Pontus, to the east by Pontus and Cappadocia, to the south by Cappadocia, Lycaonia and Phrygia, and to the west by Phrygia and Bithynia.

The name Galatia comes from the fact that some Gallic tribes, who had invaded Macedonia and Greece (278-277 BC), penetrated into Asia Minor. As a reward for services rendered in war, Nicodemus, king of Bithynia, granted these Gauls a territory that was named after them. The Greeks gave these occupants the name "galatai."

Pesinonte, Ancira and Tavium were the main cities of Galatia, whose limits varied in different historical periods, according to the chances of wars.

In 189 BC, the Romans subdued the Galatians, who nevertheless maintained their self-government. The victors gave their favor to these valuable allies.

Under Amyntas, their last king, the territory expanded far to the south, so that it included part of Phrygia, Pisidia, Lycaonia and Isauria. After the death of Amyntas (25 BC), this expanded territory became the Roman province of Galatia.

In the year 7 B.C. The territory of Paphlagonia was added to the north, and a part of Pontus; After 63 AD, Galatia underwent other territorial changes. Here then arises the problem of knowing whether the name of Galatia in the NT (Acts 16:6; 18:23; Gal. 1:2) refers to the Roman province, or to the primitive territory of Galatia.

In the first case, Paul would have evangelized her on his first missionary journey (Acts 13; 14), in the company of Barnabas. But in the second case, Paul would not have announced the Good News there until his second journey (Acts 16:6).