Myra
Myra is an ancient city mentioned in the New Testament, located in the region of Asia Minor in modern-day Turkey. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Myra appears once in the New Testament, in Acts 27:5-6, during the account of Paul's voyage to Rome as a prisoner. Luke records that after sailing across the open sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, they landed at Myra in Lycia, a region on the southern coast of Asia Minor. There the centurion Julius found an Alexandrian grain ship bound for Italy and transferred Paul and the other prisoners aboard. Myra served as a major port along the grain trade route from Egypt to Rome, making it a natural transshipment point for large vessels. Though Paul's stay at Myra was brief and no evangelistic activity is recorded there, the city played a practical role in the providential journey that would bring the apostle to the imperial capital. The subsequent voyage from Myra proved treacherous, eventually leading to the famous shipwreck on Malta (Acts 27-28). Myra later became an important center of early Christianity, most notably as the bishopric of Saint Nicholas in the fourth century.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Myra is identified with the ruins near the modern town of Demre (formerly Kale) in Antalya Province, Turkey. The site features one of the best-preserved Roman theater complexes in Lycia, with a seating capacity of approximately 11,000. Adjacent to the theater are spectacular Lycian rock-cut tombs carved into the cliff face, dating from the fourth century BC. The Church of Saint Nicholas, a Byzantine-era basilica, has been extensively excavated and restored, marking the burial site of Nicholas of Myra, the historical figure behind the Santa Claus tradition. The ancient harbor at Andriake, Myra's port, has been excavated to reveal Hadrian's granary, confirming the city's role in the imperial grain trade mentioned in Acts. The site is now a popular tourist destination.
Verse Appearances (1)
Acts
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →