Lycaonia in Fausset's Bible Dictionary

A province in the S. of Asia Minor, having Galatia on the N., Cappadocia E., Pisidia and Phrygia W., Cilicia S. A bare tableland without trees or lakes of fresh water (but many salt lakes), only fit for sheep pasture. "The speech of Lycaonia" was probably a corrupt mixture of Greek and Syriac; the people's objects of worship were those of the Greeks and Romans, Mercury and Jupiter, whose visit to this quarter is one of Ovid's fables (Metam. 8:626). At Lystra in the center of the region Paul delivered his address, admirably suited to his audience (Acts 14:15-17). Iconium was far on the W. toward Antioch in Pisidia; Derbe was on the E. of Lystra, toward the pass from Cilicia up through Taurus to the central tableland (Acts 14:1; Acts 14:6). Paul on his first journey passed through Lycaonia from W. to E., then back the reverse way E. to W. (Acts 14:21; 2 Timothy 3:11.) At his second journey he passed from E. to W. through Lycaonia to Troas (Acts 16:1-8); on the third, in the same direction, to Ephesus (Acts 18:23; Acts 19:1).