Where was Paul when he wrote that all in Asia had turned away from him?
Paul wrote those words while imprisoned in Rome, just before his martyrdom. He expressed heartache that churches he had suffered for in Asia had rejected him and had not remained true to the apostle who brought them out of paganism. Scripture confirms this rejection occurred, though the extent is unknown.
Les explains that it was not that they pitched Christianity overboard, but they turned their back on the apostles' teachings of pure grace and went back under the legalistic teachings and influence of Peter, James, and John and the Jewish community, as seen in Galatians. Les points out the heartache: these little churches Paul had suffered for, spent time with, and encouraged as they grew in grace and knowledge, yet as he writes from prison in Rome just before martyrdom, he has to say all those in Asia turned away from him. They had rejected him, and though the extent is unknown, Scripture is true—they had not remained true to the apostle who brought them out of paganism. Les then moves to II Corinthians 12:16.
This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
More Questions
Which churches were located in Asia, the region Paul mentions?
The churches Paul founded in Asia included Ephesus, Thyatira, Pergamos, Derbe, Lystra, and Antioch in Pisidia, all located in what Scripture calls Asia or Asia Minor.