Lasea
Lasea is an ancient city mentioned in the New Testament, located in the region of North Africa in modern-day Greece. Known today as Lasaea. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Lasea appears in a single New Testament passage, Acts 27:8, during the account of Paul's perilous voyage to Rome as a prisoner. Luke records that Paul's ship, struggling against adverse winds along the southern coast of Crete, 'sailed along it with difficulty and arrived at a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.' This coastal city served as a geographical reference point marking the location of the harbor called Fair Havens (Kaloi Limenes). At this juncture, Paul warned the centurion and crew that continuing the voyage would bring disaster, but the majority overruled him, seeking to reach the more suitable harbor at Phoenix for wintering. The subsequent storm and shipwreck on Malta vindicated Paul's prophetic warning. Lasea thus stands in the narrative as a place of decision, where human judgment was tested against divine guidance. Though a minor city, its appearance in Acts connects it to one of Scripture's most dramatic seafaring narratives and to the providential journey that would bring the gospel to the heart of the Roman Empire.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Lasea has been identified with ruins located approximately eight kilometers east of Fair Havens on the southern coast of Crete, near the modern village of Lasaia. The site was identified in the nineteenth century, and limited archaeological investigation has confirmed occupation during the Roman period. Remains include traces of walls, pottery fragments, and a small harbor installation consistent with a modest coastal settlement. The identification is supported by the preservation of the ancient name in the local toponym and the proximity to Fair Havens (Kaloi Limenes), which remains identifiable as a small bay. The southern coast of Crete in this area is rugged and exposed, confirming Luke's description of the difficulty in sailing past Cape Matala.
Verse Appearances (1)
Acts
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →