Lycaonia (Λυκαονία, Lykaonia). A region in central Asia Minor. Paul visited two cities in Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, during his first missionary journey (Acts 14:6–22), and passed through the region twice more (Acts 16:1–5; 18:23). Luke refers to Lycaonia as the district around those cities (Acts 14:6). It is called the “region of Galatia” in Acts 18:23 (ESV).

In Paul’s day, Lycaonia consisted of two parts, east and west. The western part was a subdivision of the Roman province Galatia. The eastern part was called Lycaonia Antiochiana, after Antiochus of Commagene under whom it had been placed by the Romans in ad 37. Lycaonia was bordered on the west by Phrygia, the north by ethnic Galatia, and the east by Cappadocia. To the south lie the Taurus Mountains.

According to the “south Galatian” view, churches in this region were recipients of Paul’s Letter to the Galatians (see the following article: Galatia).