Geographical Location:
Abilene is a region mentioned in the New Testament, located in the area of the Anti-Lebanon mountain range, which is part of modern-day Syria. It is situated to the northwest of Damascus and is associated with the city of Abila, which served as its capital. The region is characterized by its fertile land, benefiting from the proximity to the mountains and the Barada River.

Biblical Reference:
Abilene is referenced in the Gospel of Luke, specifically in the context of the political landscape during the time of John the Baptist's ministry. The passage provides a historical setting by listing the rulers of various regions:

"In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene," (Luke 3:1).

Historical Context:
The mention of Abilene in Luke 3:1 places it within the broader context of the Roman Empire's administrative divisions during the early first century AD. The term "tetrarch" refers to a ruler of a quarter of a region, indicating that Abilene was part of a larger political structure. Lysanias, the tetrarch of Abilene, is a somewhat obscure figure, and there is limited historical information about his reign. However, the mention of his rule helps to date the events described in the Gospel of Luke.

Cultural and Political Significance:
Abilene, as part of the Roman Empire, would have been influenced by both Roman and local cultures. The region's governance under a tetrarch suggests a degree of autonomy, although it was ultimately subject to Roman authority. The political arrangement of the time, with various tetrarchs ruling different regions, reflects the complex and often fragmented nature of governance in the Near East under Roman rule.

Archaeological Insights:
Archaeological findings in the area believed to be Abilene have provided some insights into the region's historical and cultural context. The city of Abila, identified with modern-day Suq Wadi Barada, contains ruins that suggest a settlement with significant Roman influence, including temples, roads, and other infrastructure typical of Roman provincial towns.

Theological Implications:
The reference to Abilene in the Gospel of Luke serves to anchor the narrative of John the Baptist and the beginning of Jesus' ministry within a specific historical framework. By listing the rulers of the time, the Gospel writer emphasizes the historical reality of the events described, providing a backdrop that underscores the intersection of divine action with human history.

Conclusion:
The mention of Abilene in the New Testament, though brief, contributes to the historical and geographical context of the Gospel narrative. It highlights the political landscape of the region during the early first century and serves as a testament to the historical grounding of the biblical account.Abilene

the father of mourning

Abilene

(land of meadows), (Luke 3:1) a city situated on the eastern slope of Antilibanus, in a district fertilized by the river Barada (Abana). The city was 18 miles from Damascus, and stood in a remarkable gorge called Suk Wady Barada .

Abilene

The name of a district of country on the eastern declivity of Anti-Lebanon, from twelve to twenty miles north-west of Damascus, towards Heliopolis, or Baalbek; so called from the city of ABILA, and also called Abilene of Lysanias, to distinguish it from others. This territory, in the fifteenth year of Tiberius emperor of Rome, was governed as a tetrarchate by a certain Lysanias, Luke 3:1.

A plain, a district lying on the east slope of the Anti-Lebanon range; so called from its chief town, Abila (Luke 3:1), which stood in the Suk Wady Barada, between Heliopolis (Baalbec) and Damascus, 38 miles from the former and 18 from the latter. Lysanias was governor or tetrarch of this province. ABILENE

a-bi-le'-ne (Abeilene, Codex Alexandrinus and Codex Vaticanus; Abilene, Codex Sinaiticus): Mentioned in Luke 3:1 as the tetrarchy of Lysanias at the time when John the Baptist began his ministry. The district derived its name from Abila, its chief town, which was situated, according to the Itinerarium Antonini, 18 Roman miles from Damascus on the way to Heliopolis (Baalbec). This places it in the neighborhood of the village of Suk Wady Barada (see ABANAH), near which there are considerable ancient remains, with an inscription in Greek stating that a "freedman of Lysanias the tetrarch" made wall and built a temple, and another in Latin recording the repair of the road "at the expense of the Abilenians." The memory of the ancient name probably survives in the Moslem legend which places the tomb of Abel in a neighboring height where there are ruins of a temple. Josephus calls this Abila, he Lusaniou, literally, "the Abilene of Lysanius," thus distinguishing it from other towns of the same name, and as late as the time of Ptolemy (circa 170 A.D.) the name of Lysanias was associated with it.

The territory of Abilene was part of the Iturean Kingdom, which was broken up when its king, Lysanias, was put to death by M. Antonius, circa 35 B.C. The circumstances in which Abilene became distinct tetrarchy are altogether obscure, and nothing further is known of the tetrarch Lysanias (Ant., XIX, v, 1; XX, ii, 1). In 37 A.D. the tetrarchy, along with other territories, was granted to Agrippa I, after whose death in 44 A.D. it was administered by procurators until 53 A.D., when Claudius conferred it again, along with neighboring territories, upon Agrippa II. On Agrippa's death, toward the close of the 1st century, his kingdom was incorporated in the province of Syria. See LYSANIAS.

C. H. Thomson

9. Abilene -- Abilene, territory northwest of Damascus
... 8, 9. Abilene. 10 . Abilene, territory northwest of Damascus. Part
of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: Abilene Phonetic ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/9.htm - 6k

3078. Lusanias -- "ending sorrow," Lysanias, a governor of Abilene
... "ending sorrow," Lysanias, a governor of Abilene. Part of Speech ... From lusis and ania
(trouble); grief-dispelling; Lysanias, a governor of Abilene -- Lysanias. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3078.htm - 6k

Book 17 Footnotes
... note of Grotias, on Luke 3:1, here quoted by Dr. Hudson: "When Josephus says that
some part of the house [or possession] of Zenodorus [ie Abilene] was allotted ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 17 footnotes.htm

On the Position Given to the Preaching of John the Baptist in all ...
... Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Itur??a and of
the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, Annas and ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter vi on the position given.htm

John the Baptist's Person and Preaching.
... Lebanon, who was put to death by Mark Antony, bc36, or sixty-odd years before this,
and another who was tetrarch of Abilene in the reigns of Caligula and ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xvii john the baptists person.htm

The Preaching of John. Ch. 3:1-20
... Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of
the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 in ...
/.../erdman/the gospel of luke an exposition/a the preaching of john.htm

John the Preacher of Repentance
... and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and
of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, 2. Annas ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/john the preacher of repentance.htm

The Voice in the Wilderness.
... Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of
the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, in the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/the voice in the wilderness.htm

The Gospel.
... to Archelaus Judea, Samaria, and Idumea; to Antipas, Galilee; to Philip, Iturea,
the part beyond the Jordan; and to a Greek named Lysanias, Abilene, in the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson xx the gospel.htm

The Times of Pilate.
... XVII. 8. 1; 11. 4; XVIII. 2. 1; 5 and 7; BJ II. 9. [165] The Lysanias referred
to here is mentioned in Luke 3:1 as Tetrarch of Abilene. ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter ix the times of pilate.htm

The Foundation of the Church.
... make up for his sufferings, Caligula no sooner became emperor than he set him free,
gave him a crown, made him King of Trachonitis and Abilene, and presented ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson xxi the foundation of.htm

The Magi came from the East to Jerusalem,...
... and Philip his brother, one of the four rulers, in Itur??a and in the district of
Trachonitis; and [38] Lysanias, one of the four rulers, in Abilene; [277] in ...
/.../hogg/the diatessaron of tatian/section iii the magi came.htm

Abilene (1 Occurrence)
... Lysanias was governor or tetrarch of this province. Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia. ABILENE. a-bi-le'-ne (Abeilene, Codex Alexandrinus ...
/a/abilene.htm - 9k

Lysanias (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Tetrarch of Abilene (Luke 3:1), on the eastern slope of
Anti-Lebanon, near the city of Damascus. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ...
/l/lysanias.htm - 7k

Tetrarch (5 Occurrences)
... at least the Romans made a distinction between Herod "tetrarch" of Galilee, Philip
"tetrarch" of Trachonitis, Lysanias "tetrarch" of Abilene, and Archelaius ...
/t/tetrarch.htm - 9k

Abile'ne (1 Occurrence)
Abile'ne. Abilene, Abile'ne. Ability . Multi-Version Concordance Abile'ne
(1 Occurrence). ... Abilene, Abile'ne. Ability . Reference Bible.
/a/abile'ne.htm - 6k

Lysanius (1 Occurrence)
... and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and
of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanius the tetrarch of Abilene, (WBS). ...
/l/lysanius.htm - 6k

Lysa'ni-as (1 Occurrence)
... Judea, and Herod tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother, tetrarch of Ituraea
and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene -- (See RSV ...
/l/lysa'ni-as.htm - 6k

Iturea (1 Occurrence)
... and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and
of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanius the tetrarch of Abilene, (WBS NIV ...
/i/iturea.htm - 6k

Iturae'a (1 Occurrence)
... Judea, and Herod tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother, tetrarch of Ituraea
and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene -- (See RSV ...
/i/iturae'a.htm - 6k

Ituraea (1 Occurrence)
... and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region
of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, (WEB KJV WEY ...
/i/ituraea.htm - 10k

Fifteenth (18 Occurrences)
... and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region
of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, (WEB KJV WEY ...
/f/fifteenth.htm - 13k

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