Lexical Summary Kós: Cos Original Word: Κῶς Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Cos. Of uncertain origin; Cos, an island in the Mediterranean -- Cos. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain origin Definition Cos, an island in the Aegean Sea NASB Translation Cos (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2972: ΚώςΚώς, genitive Κῶ, ἡ, Cos (A. V. Coos) (now Stanco or Stanchio (which has arisen from a slurred pronunciation of ἐς ταν Κῶ (modern Greek) like Stambul from ἐς ταν πόλιν. (Hackett))), a small island of the Aegean Sea, over against the cities of Cnidus and Halicarnassus, celebrated for its fertility and especially for its abundance of wine and grain: Acts 21:1, where for the Rec. Κῶν Griesbach (followed by subsequent editors) has restored Κῶ, as in 1 Macc. 15:23; see Matthiae, § 70 note 3; Winers Grammar, § 8, 2 a.; (Buttmann, 21 (19); WH's Appendix, p. 157). Cf. Kuester, De Co insula, Halicarnassus 1833; ("but the best description is in Ross, Reisen nach Kos as above with (Halle, 1852)" (Howson); cf. Lewin, St. Paul, 2:96). Topical Lexicon Geography and Setting Kos, modern-day “Kos,” lies just off the coast of Asia Minor in the southeastern Aegean Sea, south of Halicarnassus and north of Rhodes. Roughly forty kilometers long and eight kilometers wide at its broadest point, the island boasts fertile plains, abundant fresh water, and natural harbors that facilitated maritime travel between the Grecian mainland and the Levant. Historical Overview Settled from at least the second millennium B.C., Kos successively came under Minoan, Dorian, Persian, Athenian, Ptolemaic, and Roman influence. Its city of the same name became renowned for silk production, fine wine, and—most famously—the medical school associated with Hippocrates (fifth century B.C.). In Roman times the island enjoyed semi-autonomous status within the province of Asia, minted its own coins, and maintained well-paved roads and a protected port that served commercial traffic moving between Corinth, Ephesus, and Alexandria. Kos in the Apostle Paul’s Journeys The island receives explicit mention once in the New Testament. Luke records: “After we had torn ourselves away from them, we set sail straight for Cos, the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara” (Acts 21:1). Paul, returning from his third missionary journey, embarked from Miletus after exhorting the Ephesian elders and made a one-night stop at Kos before continuing southeast. Luke’s laconic reference signals an overnight anchorage rather than an extended stay, yet the verse serves several important narrative functions: Cultural and Religious Background Kos housed a celebrated Asklepieion, a healing sanctuary dedicated to Asclepius. Pilgrims sought cures through ritual baths, dreams, and medical procedures. Physicians trained there compiled case histories that shaped Greek medicine for centuries. Philosophical schools flourished alongside temples to Aphrodite, Dionysus, and other deities. Against this backdrop, New-Covenant proclamation of Christ as sole Lord and ultimate Healer (Matthew 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24) would have engaged both intellectual inquiry and devotional practice. Strategic Significance for Gospel Expansion Although Acts offers no explicit record of evangelistic activity on Kos, several factors suggest the island was well poised for gospel penetration: 1. Constant maritime traffic ensured regular arrival of Jewish and Gentile travelers already exposed to synagogue instruction in Asia Minor. Early Christian tradition indicates that many Aegean islands received the message by the end of the first century, probably through merchants and seafaring believers who followed routes pioneered by Paul. Legacy in Church History By the second century, ecclesiastical lists mention a bishopric at Kos, later represented at the Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325). Archaeological remains include basilica foundations and Christian inscriptions, attesting to a flourishing community that persisted through Byzantine times. Medieval pilgrims en route to the Holy Land continued to pass through the harbor, perpetuating Kos’s role as a waypoint in the wider drama of redemption history. Lessons for Faith and Mission • Faithful witness often occurs in brief, seemingly mundane stops; God uses even overnight anchorages to extend His kingdom. Forms and Transliterations Κω Κῶ Ko Kô Kō Kō̂Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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