The people to whom Peter wrote lived in a number of territories mentioned at 1:1—Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia. Together, these five territories form a large part of the modern state of Turkey and all were within the bounds of the Roman Empire. The gospel may have come to these areas through converted Jews returning from Pentecost after hearing Peter’s sermon (see Acts 2:9), but we know from Acts and Galatians that much of this area was later evangelised by the