Adria, also known as the Adriatic Sea, is a significant body of water mentioned in the New Testament of the Bible. It is located between the Italian Peninsula and the Balkan Peninsula, extending from the Gulf of Venice in the north to the Strait of Otranto in the south, where it connects to the Ionian Sea. In ancient times, the term "Adria" was used more broadly to refer to the central Mediterranean region, including parts of the Ionian Sea.

Biblical Reference:

The most notable mention of Adria in the Bible is found in the Book of Acts, during the Apostle Paul's journey to Rome as a prisoner. In Acts 27:27, the Berean Standard Bible states: "On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea. About midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land." This passage describes the perilous voyage Paul undertook, which ultimately led to a shipwreck on the island of Malta. The reference to the Adriatic Sea highlights the geographical context of Paul's journey and the challenges faced by ancient mariners.

Historical and Geographical Context:

In the first century, the term "Adria" encompassed a larger area than the modern Adriatic Sea. It included parts of the central Mediterranean, which is why the ship carrying Paul could be described as being driven across the Adriatic Sea even though it was closer to Malta. The sea was a crucial route for trade and travel in the Roman Empire, connecting various provinces and facilitating the spread of goods, culture, and ideas.

The Adriatic Sea was known for its unpredictable weather and treacherous conditions, which are vividly illustrated in the account of Paul's shipwreck. The sailors' experience of being driven across the sea for fourteen nights underscores the dangers of ancient maritime travel and the reliance on divine providence for safety and guidance.

Theological Significance:

The mention of Adria in the context of Paul's journey to Rome serves as a testament to the Apostle's unwavering faith and commitment to his mission, despite the physical and spiritual challenges he faced. The perilous journey across the Adriatic Sea symbolizes the trials and tribulations encountered by believers in their spiritual journey. It also highlights God's sovereignty and protection, as Paul was assured by an angel that he and all aboard the ship would be saved (Acts 27:23-24).

The account of Paul's voyage and shipwreck in the Adriatic Sea is a powerful narrative of faith, perseverance, and divine intervention. It serves as an encouragement to Christians to trust in God's plan and provision, even in the midst of life's storms.Adria

more properly Adrias, the Adriatic Sea. (Acts 27:27) The word seems to have been derived from the town of Adria, near the Po. In Paul's time it included the whole sea between Greece and Italy, reaching south from Crete to Sicily. [MELITA]

Adria

In Acts 27:27. The Adriatic Sea. This term now denotes only the Gulf of Venice; but in St. Paul's time it included the whole sea lying between Italy and Greece, and extending on the south from Crete to Sicily, within which the island of Malta or Melita lies. So Ptolemy and Strabo.

(Acts 27:27; R.V., "the sea of Adria"), the Adriatic Sea, including in Paul's time the whole of the Mediterranean lying between Crete and Sicily. It is the modern Gulf of Venice, the Mare Superum_ of the Romans, as distinguished from the Mare Inferum_ or Tyrrhenian Sea. ADRIA

a'-dri-a (Westcott-Hort: ho Hadrias or ho Adrias): In Greek Adrias (Polybios i0.2.4), Adriatike Thalassa (Strabo iv.204), and Adriatikon Pelagos (Ptolemy iii0.15.2), and in Latin Adriaticum mare (Livy xl0.57.7), Adrianum mare (Cicero in Pisonem 38), Adriaticus sinus (Livy x0.2.4), and Mare superurn (Cicero ad Att. 90.5.1). The Adriatic Sea is a name derived from the old Etruscan city Atria, situated near the mouth of the Po (Livy v0.330.7; Strabo v.214). At first the name Adria was only applied to the most northern part of the sea. But after the development of the Syracusan colonies on the Italian and Illyrian coasts the application of the term was gradually extended southward, so as to reach Mons Garganus (the Abruzzi), and later the Strait of Hydruntum (Ptolemy iii0.10.1; Polybios vii0.19.2). But finally the name embraced the Ionian Sea as well, and we find it employed to denote the Gulf of Tarentum (Servius Aen xi.540), the Sicilian Sea (Pausanias v. 25), and even the waters between Crete and Malta (Orosius i0.2.90). Procopius considers Malta as lying at the western extremity of the Adriatic Sea (i.14). After leaving Crete the vessel in which the apostle Paul was sailing under military escort was "driven to and fro in the sea of Adria" fourteen days (Acts 27:27) before it approached the shore of Malta. We may compare this with the shipwreck of Josephus in "the middle of the Adria" where he was picked up by a ship sailing from Cyrene to Puteoli (Josephus, Vita, 3).

George H. Allen

99. Adrias -- the Adriatic, the name of a sea
... Adria. From Adria (a place near its shore); the Adriatic sea (including the Ionian) --
Adria. (adria) -- 1 Occurrence. 98, 99. Adrias. 100 . Strong's Numbers
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/99.htm - 6k

The Grave Stone.
... Paul had the assurance given him by an angel from heaven, when tossed in the storm
in Adria, that not one life in his vessel was to be lost; that though the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/memories of bethany/xiii the grave stone.htm

Acts xxvi. 30-32
... "But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria,
about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country; and ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily liii acts xxvi 30-32.htm

A Short Confession of Faith
... And such circumstances as Paul had been in for the last fortnight, tossing up and
down in Adria, with Death looking over the bulwarks of the crazy ship every ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/a short confession of faith.htm

The Note of Cheer
... The ship is "driven up and down in Adria." Euroclydon roars through the
rigging. Mighty billows come crashing over the bulwarks. ...
/.../jackson/the message and the man/chapter v the note of.htm

Perseverance of Saints.
... But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria,
about midnight the ship-men deemed that they drew near to some country; 28. ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xlvii perseverance of saints.htm

Adria (1 Occurrence)
... (Acts 27:27; RV, "the sea of Adria"), the Adriatic Sea, including in Paul's time
the whole of the Mediterranean lying between Crete and Sicily. ...ADRIA. ...
/a/adria.htm - 8k

Quit (12 Occurrences)
... ti-be'-ri-as. See GALILEE, SEA OF. SEA, ADRIATIC. a-dri-at'-ic, ad-ri-at'-ik. See
ADRIA. SEA, BRAZEN. bra'-z'n. See SEA, THE MOLTEN. SEA, DEAD; EASTERN. es'-tern ...
/q/quit.htm - 13k

Neared (1 Occurrence)
... Acts 27:27 And when the fourteenth night was come, we being driven about in Adria,
towards the middle of the night the sailors supposed that some land neared ...
/n/neared.htm - 6k

Fro (54 Occurrences)
... Acts 27:27 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven to and fro
in the 'sea of' Adria, about midnight the sailors surmised that they were ...
/f/fro.htm - 23k

Deemed (14 Occurrences)
... Acts 27:27 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down
in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country ...
/d/deemed.htm - 10k

Drifting (3 Occurrences)
... Acts 27:27 It was now the fourteenth night, and we were drifting through the Sea
of Adria, when, about midnight, the sailors suspected that land was close at ...
/d/drifting.htm - 7k

Melita (1 Occurrence)
... attributing the reference to the island of Meleda on the East coast of the Adriatic
Sea was due to the ancient practice of employing the term Adria to include ...
/m/melita.htm - 10k

A'dria (1 Occurrence)
A'dria. Adria, A'dria. Adriatic . Multi-Version Concordance A'dria (1 Occurrence). ...
(See RSV). Adria, A'dria. Adriatic . Reference Bible.
/a/a'dria.htm - 6k

Adread (1 Occurrence)

/a/adread.htm - 6k

Supposing (16 Occurrences)
... Acts 27:27 And when the fourteenth night came -- we being borne up and down in the
Adria -- toward the middle of the night the sailors were supposing that some ...
/s/supposing.htm - 11k

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