Turkey is home to numerous sites of major biblical significance, spanning both the Old and New Testaments. Some of the most notable biblical sites in Turkey include:
New Testament
Antioch (Antakya) – Antioch (modern-day Antakya) has historical connections to the Old Testament as a significant city in the region of Syria, later known for the early Christian Church where believers were first called Christians. Acts 11:26, Acts 6:5, Acts 11:19, Acts 11:20, Acts 11:22, Acts 11:26, Acts 11:27, Acts 13:1, Acts 13:14, Acts 14:19, Acts 14:26, Acts 15:1, Acts 15:22, Acts 15:23, Acts 15:30, Acts 15:35, Acts 18:22, Acts 18:23, Galatians 2:11, 2 Timothy 3:11
Ephesus (Efes) – Known for the Ephesian church and the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. The city was also important in the early church. Revelation 1:11, Revelation 2:1, Ephesians 1:1 , Ephesians 3:14, Acts 19:28, Acts 20:13, Acts 21:29, 1 Corinthians 15:32, 1 Timothy 1:3, 2 Timothy 4:12, 2 Timothy 1:18,
Laodicea – A city mentioned in Revelation, one of the seven churches of Asia near Pamukkale. Colossians 2:1, Colossians 4:13, Colossians 4:15, Colossians 4:16, Revelation 1:11, Revelation 3:14
Sardis – A city of the ancient region of Lydia, mentioned in Revelation as one of the seven churches. Revelation 1:11, Revelation 3:1, Revelation 3:4
Pergamum (Pergamos) – Mentioned in Revelation as one of the seven churches. Revelation 2:12-17
Thyatira – Another city mentioned in Revelation as part of the seven churches. Acts 16:14, Revelation 1:11, Revelation 2:18, Revelation 2:24
Philadelphia – A city in the region of Lydia modern-day city of Alaşehir. Revelation 1:11, Revelation 3:7
Smyrna – The third biggest city in Turkey located in the western region, modern-day Izmir. Revelation 1:11, Revelation 2:8
Miletus – A city mentioned in Acts as the place where Paul had a farewell meeting with the Ephesian elders. Acts 20:15, Acts 20:17, 2 Timothy 4:20
Cilicia – A region in southern Turkey mentioned as the home of the Apostle Paul. Acts 6:9, Acts 15:23, Acts 15:41, Acts 21:39, Acts 22:3, Acts 23:34, Acts 27:5, Galatians 1:21
Lydia – Known in the Bible for the merchant Lydia, who was baptized by Paul in the New Testament, and the region where the city of Sardis was located. Isaiah 66:19, Jeremiah 46:9, Ezekiel 27:10, Ezekiel 30:5, Acts 16:11, Acts 16:14, Acts 16:40
Bithynia – A region where Peter writes to the churches in 1 Peter, part of northern Turkey. Acts 16:7, 1 Peter 1:1
Pontus – The Black Sea region is in the northern part of Turkey. Acts 2:9, Acts 18:2, 1 Peter 1:1
Phrygia – An ancient region in central Turkey mentioned in the Old Testament in various contexts, including as part of the early migrations of the Israelites. Acts 2:10, Acts 16:6, Acts 18:23
Colossae – The city to which the Letter to the Colossians was addressed. It is part of the region of Phrygia. Colossians 1:2
Galatia – A region to which Paul addressed the Letter to the Galatians, situated in central Turkey near Cappadocia. Acts 16:6 , Acts 18:23 , 1 Corinthians 16:1 , Galatians 1:2 , Galatians 3:1 , Galatians 4:8 , 2 Timothy 4:10 , 1 Peter 1:1,
Cappadocians – A region in central Turkey mentioned in Acts 2 during Pentecost. Acts 2:9, 1 Peter 1:1
Attalia – A port city in the region of Pamphylia on the Mediterranean Sea, modern-day city of Antalya. Acts 14:25, Acts 14:26
Perge – A city visited by Paul and Barnabas near Antalya. Acts 13:13, Acts 13:14, Acts 14:25
Iconium – A city visited by Paul and Barnabas during their missionary journeys, mentioned in Acts, modern-day city of Konya in central Turkey. Acts 13:51, Acts 14:1, Acts 14:19, Acts 14:21, Acts 16:2, 2 Timothy 3:11
Derbe – Another city visited by Paul and Barnabas during their missionary journeys. Acts 14:6, Acts 14:8, Acts 14:20, Acts 16:1, Acts 20:4
Lystra – A city visited by Paul and Barnabas located in central Turkey. Acts 14:6, Acts 14:8, Acts 14:21, Acts 16:1, Acts 16:2, 2 Timothy 3:11
Pisidian Antioch – A city visited by Paul during his missionary journeys located north of Antalya. Acts 13:13, Acts 13:14
Patara – A port city in Lycia, visited by St. Paul. It is also the birthplace of St. Nicholas. Acts 21:1
Lycia – A region in the southwest of modern Turkey as part of the broader Anatolian landscape. Acts 27:5
Cnidus – An ancient city in southwestern Turkey, mentioned in Acts 27:7 as part of Paul’s journey by sea. Acts 27:7
Troas (Troy) – Mentioned in Acts, where Paul had a vision and traveled to Macedonia. It is also the site of ancient Troy. Acts 16:8, Acts 16:11, Acts 20:5, Acts 20:6, Acts 20:7, 2 Corinthians 2:12, 2 Timothy 4:13
Assos – An ancient city in the region of Mysia (near modern-day Ayvalık), mentioned in Acts as a stopping point in Paul’s journey. Acts 20:13, Acts 20:14
Adramyttium – A city on the northwest coast of Turkey near Canakkale, the place from which Paul sailed. Acts 27:2
Seleucia – A port city near Antioch, often referenced in the Acts of the Apostles as a starting point for Paul’s journeys. Acts 13:4
Old Testament
Tarsus – Located in the region of Cilicia, Tarsus is mentioned in several places in the Old Testament, especially as the birthplace of the Apostle Paul in the New Testament, but it also appears in some of the books, such as the book of Acts. Acts 9:11, Acts 9:30, Acts 11:25, Acts 21:39, Acts 22:3
Ararat – The mountain where Noah's Ark is said to have landed (Genesis 8:4). Mount Ararat is located in modern-day eastern Turkey. Genesis 8:4, 2 Kings 19:37, Isaiah 37:38, Jeremiah 51:27
Carchemish – An ancient city on the Euphrates River, important in the Old Testament close to the Syrian-Turkish border. 2 Chronicles 35:20, Isaiah 10:9, Jeremiah 46:2
Tigris River – Mentioned in the Old Testament in the context of the Assyrian Empire and Babylon. While its source is in Turkey, its influence is broader in the ancient Near East. Genesis 2:14, Daniel 10:4
Euphrates River – One of the two great rivers in Mesopotamia, mentioned in 50 Old and 2 New Testament passages. The river flows through Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. Genesis 2:14, Exodus 23:31, Numbers 22:5, Deuteronomy 1:7, Joshua 1:4, 2 Samuel 8:3, 1 Kings 4:21, 1 Chronicles 5:9, Ezra 4:10, Nehemiah 2:7, Isaiah 7:20, Isaiah 11:15, Jeremiah 2:18, Revelation 9:14, Revelation 16:12
Harran – A city mentioned in the Old Testament (Genesis 11:31, Acts 7:2) as a place where Abraham stopped before moving to Canaan. Located in southeastern Turkey near the Syrian border. Genesis 11:31, Genesis 12:4, Genesis 27:43, 2 Kings 19:12, Isaiah 37:12, Ezekiel 27:23, Acts 7:2, Acts 7:4
The Hittites – A significant ancient people mentioned throughout the Old Testament, originating from the region that is now modern-day Turkey. Genesis 10:15, Genesis 15:20, Genesis 49:32, Exodus 3:8, Numbers 13:29, Deuteronomy 7:1, Joshua 9:1, Judges 1:26, 1 Kings 9:20, 1 Chronicles 1:13, Ezra 9:1, Nehemiah 9:8
Lydia – Known in the Bible for the merchant Lydia, the region where the city of Sardis was located. Isaiah 66:19, Jeremiah 46:9, Ezekiel 27:10, Ezekiel 30:5