Where is Samos mentioned in the Bible?

Samos is mentioned only once in the New Testament, in Acts 20:15, as a stopping point on the Apostle Paul's return voyage to Jerusalem during his third missionary journey.

Where is the biblical Samos located today?

Biblical Samos is an island in the Aegean Sea, located off the coast of Asia Minor in modern-day Turkey, near the region of Ionia.

Why is Samos significant in the Bible?

While no specific event is recorded there, Samos is significant as a geographical marker of Paul's travel route, demonstrating the spread of the gospel through Asia Minor and the logistical realities of sea travel in the first century.

Samos

seaNew TestamentAsia Minor

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Country

Turkey

Region

Asia Minor

Coordinates

37.7500, 26.8333

Samos is a body of water 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

Samos appears in Acts 20:15 during Paul's third missionary journey, as he made his way back toward Jerusalem. Luke records that after leaving Chios, "the next day we arrived at Samos, and the day after that we crossed over to Miletus." The island of Samos, situated in the eastern Aegean Sea just off the coast of Asia Minor, served as a waypoint on the maritime route along the western coast of modern Turkey. Paul's stop at Samos was brief, part of his urgent journey to reach Jerusalem by Pentecost (Acts 20:16). From nearby Miletus, Paul would deliver his emotional farewell address to the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:17-38). Though no ministry activity is recorded at Samos itself, the island's mention illustrates the extensive maritime network that facilitated the spread of the gospel throughout the Mediterranean. Samos had been famous in the ancient world as the birthplace of the philosopher Pythagoras and the astronomer Aristarchus, and it enjoyed a long history as a prosperous and culturally significant Greek island.

Archaeological & Historical Notes

Samos is a large Greek island in the eastern Aegean Sea, separated from the Turkish mainland by the narrow Mycale Strait. Archaeological discoveries on the island include the Heraion, a sanctuary dedicated to Hera that was one of the largest temples in the ancient Greek world. The ancient harbor town of Pythagoreion, named after the island's most famous native, preserves significant remains including the Eupalinian tunnel, a remarkable sixth-century BC aqueduct. Roman-period remains, including harbor installations and residential areas, confirm the island's continued importance during the New Testament era. The island was a free state under Roman rule, which would have made it an attractive port of call. Today Samos remains inhabited and is a popular tourist destination, with its archaeological sites designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Verse Appearances (1)

Acts

Acts 20:15

Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →

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