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Selected Verse: Acts 16:12 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Ac 16:12 |
Strong Concordance |
And [5037] from thence [1564] to [1519] Philippi [5375], which [3748] is [2076] the chief [4413] city [4172] of that part [3310] of Macedonia [3109], and a colony [2862]: and [1161] we were [2258] in [1722] that [5026] city [4172] abiding [1304] certain [5100] days [2250]. |
| |
King James |
And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
Philippi . . . the chief--rather, perhaps, "the first"
city of that part of Macedonia--The meaning appears to be--the first city one comes to, proceeding from Neapolis. The sense given in our version hardly consists with fact.
a colony--that is, possessing all the privileges of Roman citizenship, and, as such, both exempted from scourging and (in ordinary cases) from arrest, and entitled to appeal from the local magistrate to the emperor. Though the Pisidian Antioch and Troas were also "colonies," the fact is mentioned in this history of Philippi only on account of the frequent references to Roman privileges and duties in the sequel of the chapter.
AT PHILIPPI, LYDIA IS GAINED AND WITH HER HOUSEHOLD BAPTIZED--AN EVIL SPIRIT IS EXPELLED, PAUL AND SILAS ARE SCOURGED, IMPRISONED, AND MANACLED, BUT MIRACULOUSLY SET FREE, AND THE JAILER WITH ALL HIS HOUSEHOLD CONVERTED AND BAPTIZED. (Act 16:12-34)
we were in that city abiding certain days--waiting till the sabbath came round: their whole stay must have extended to some weeks. As their rule was to begin with the Jews and proselytes, they did nothing till the time when they knew that they would convene for worship. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
And from thence to Philippi - The former name of this city was Dathos. It was repaired and adorned by Philip, the father of Alexander the Great, and after him was called Philippi. It was famous for having been the place where several battles were fought during the civil wars of the Romans, and, among others, for the decisive battle between Brutus and Antony. At this place Brutus killed himself. To the church in this place Paul afterward wrote the Epistle which bears its name.
Which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia - This whole region had been conquered by the Romans under Paulus Aemilius. By him it was divided into four parts or provinces (Livy). The Syriac version renders it "a city of the first part of Macedonia," and there is a medal extant which also describes this region by this name. It has been proposed, therefore, to alter the Greek text in accordance with this, since it is known that Amphipolis was made the chief city by Paulus Aemilius. But it may be remarked that, although Amphipolis was the chief city in the time of Paulus Aemilius, it may have happened that in the lapse of 220 years from that time Philippi might have become the most extensive and splendid city. The Greek here may also mean simply that this was the first city to which they arrived in their travels.
And a colony - This is a Latin word, and means that this was a Roman colony. The word denotes "a city or province" which was planted or occupied by Roman citizens. It is a strong confirmation of the fact here stated by Luke, that Philippi had the rank and dignity of a Roman colony, as coins are still extant, in which Philippi is distinctly referred to as a colony. Such coins exist from the reign of Augustus to the reign of Caracalla.
Certain days - Some days. |
| The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917] |
colony
That is, a Roman colony. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Chief (πρώτη)
Some explain, the first city to which they came in Macedonia.
A colony (κολωνία)
Roman towns were of two classes: municipia, or free towns, and colonies. The distinction, however, was not sharply maintained, so that, in some cases, we find the same town bearing both names. The two names involved no difference of right or of privilege. The historical difference between a colony and a free town is, that the free towns were taken into the state from without, while the colonies were offshoots from within. "The municipal cities insensibly equalled the rank and splendor of the colonies; and in the reign of Hadrian it was disputed which was the preferable condition, of those societies which had issued from, or those which had been received into, the bosom of Rome" (Gibbon, "Decline and Fall").
The colony was used for three different purposes in the course of Roman history: as a fortified outpost in a conquered country; as a means of providing for the poor of Rome; and as a settlement for veterans who had served their time. It is with the third class, established by Augustus, that we have to do here. The Romans divided mankind into citizens and strangers. An inhabitant of Italy was a citizen; an inhabitant of any other part of the empire was a peregrinus, or stranger. The colonial policy abolished this distinction so far as privileges were concerned. The idea of a colony was, that it was another Rome transferred to the soil of another country. In his establishment of colonies, Augustus, in some instances, expelled the existing inhabitants and founded entirely new towns with his colonists; in others, he merely added his settlers to the existing population of the town then receiving the rank and title of a colony. In some instances a place received these without receiving any new citizens at all. Both classes of citizens were in possession of the same privileges, the principal of which were, exemption from scourging, freedom from arrest, except in extreme cases, and, in all cases, the right of appeal from the magistrate to the emperor. The names of the colonists were still enrolled in one of the Roman tribes. The traveller heard the Latin language and was amenable to the Roman law. The coinage of the city had Latin inscriptions. The affairs of the colony were regulated by their own magistrates, named Duumviri, who took pride in calling themselves by the Roman title of praetors (see on Act 16:20). |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| The first city - Neapolis was the first city they came to in that part of Macedonia which was nearest to Asia: in that part which was farthest from it, Philippi. The river Strymon ran between them. Philippi was a Roman colony. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
And from thence to Philippi - This was a town of Macedonia, in the territory of the Edones, on the confines of Thrace, situated on the side of a steep eminence. It took its name from Philip II., king of Macedon. It is famous for two battles, fought between the imperial army, commanded by Octavianus, afterwards Augustus, and Mark Antony, and the republican army, commanded by Brutus and Cassius, in which these were successful; and a second, between Octavianus and Antony on the one part, and Brutus on the other. In this battle the republican troops were cut to pieces, after which Brutus killed himself. It was to the Church in this city that St. Paul wrote the epistle that still goes under their name. This place is still in being, though much decayed, and is the see of an archbishop.
The chief city of that part of Macedonia - This passage has greatly puzzled both critics and commentators. It is well known that, when Paulus Aemilius had conquered Macedonia, he divided it into four parts, μερη, and that he called the country that lay between the rivers Strymon and Nessus, the first part, and made Amphipolis its chief city, or metropolis; Philippi, therefore, was not its chief city. But Bishop Pearce has, with great show of reason, argued that, though Amphipolis was made the chief city of it by Paulus Aemilius, yet Philippi might have been the chief city in the days of St. Paul, which was two hundred and twenty years after the division by P. Aemilius. Besides, as it was at this place that Augustus gained that victory which put him in possession of the whole Roman empire, might not he have given to it that dignity which was before enjoyed by Amphipolis? This is the most rational way of solving this difficulty; and therefore I shall not trouble the reader with the different modes that have been proposed to alter and amend the Greek text.
And a colony - That is, a colony of Rome; for it appears that a colony was planted here by Julius Caesar, and afterwards enlarged by Augustus; the people, therefore, were considered as freemen of Rome, and, from this, call themselves Romans, Act 16:21. The Jewish definition of קלניא kolonia (for they have the Latin word in Hebrew letters, as St. Luke has it. here, κολωνια, in Greek letters) is, a free city, which does not pay tribute. |
12 And [5037] from thence [1564] to [1519] Philippi [5375], which [3748] is [2076] the chief [4413] city [4172] of that part [3310] of Macedonia [3109], and a colony [2862]: and [1161] we were [2258] in [1722] that [5026] city [4172] abiding [1304] certain [5100] days [2250].
13 And [5037] on the sabbath [4521] [2250] we went [1831] out of [1854] the city [4172] by [3844] a river side [4215], where [3757] prayer [4335] was wont [3543] to be made [1511]; and [2532] we sat down [2523], and spake [2980] unto the women [1135] which resorted [4905] thither.
14 And [2532] a certain [5100] woman [1135] named [3686] Lydia [3070], a seller of purple [4211], of the city [4172] of Thyatira [2363], which worshipped [4576] God [2316], heard [191] us: whose [3739] heart [2588] the Lord [2962] opened [1272], that she attended [4337] unto the things which were spoken [2980] of [5259] Paul [3972].
15 And [1161] when [5613] she was baptized [907], and [2532] her [846] household [3624], she besought [3870] us, saying [3004], If [1487] ye have judged [2919] me [3165] to be [1511] faithful [4103] to the Lord [2962], come [1525] into [1519] my [3450] house [3624], and abide [3306] there. And [2532] she constrained [3849] us [2248].
16 And [1161] it came to pass [1096], as we [2257] went [4198] to [1519] prayer [4335], a certain [5100] damsel [3814] possessed [2192] with a spirit [4151] of divination [4436] met [528] us [2254], which [3748] brought [3930] her [846] masters [2962] much [4183] gain [2039] by soothsaying [3132]:
17 The same [3778] followed [2628] Paul [3972] and [2532] us [2254], and cried [2896], saying [3004], These [3778] men [444] are [1526] the servants [1401] of the most high [5310] God [2316], which [3748] shew [2605] unto us [2254] the way [3598] of salvation [4991].
18 And [1161] this [5124] did she [4160] [1909] many [4183] days [2250]. But [1161] Paul [3972], being grieved [1278], turned [1994] and [2532] said [2036] to the spirit [4151], I command [3853] thee [4671] in [1722] the name [3686] of Jesus [2424] Christ [5547] to come [1831] out of [575] her [846]. And [2532] he came out [1831] the same [846] hour [5610].
19 And [1161] when her [846] masters [2962] saw [1492] that [3754] the hope [1680] of their [846] gains [2039] was gone [1831], they caught [1949] Paul [3972] and [2532] Silas [4609], and drew [1670] them into [1519] the marketplace [58] unto [1909] the rulers [758],
20 And [2532] brought [4317] them [846] to the magistrates [4755], saying [2036], These [3778] men [444], being [5225] Jews [2453], do exceedingly trouble [1613] our [2257] city [4172],
21 And [2532] teach [2605] customs [1485], which [3739] are [1832] not [3756] lawful [1832] for us [2254] to receive [3858], neither [3761] to observe [4160], being [5607] Romans [4514].
22 And [2532] the multitude [3793] rose up together [4911] against [2596] them [846]: and [2532] the magistrates [4755] rent off [4048] their [846] clothes [2440], and commanded [2753] to beat [4463] them.
23 And [5037] when they had laid [2007] many [4183] stripes [4127] upon them [846], they cast [906] them into [1519] prison [5438], charging [3853] the jailor [1200] to keep [5083] them [846] safely [806]:
24 Who [3739], having received [2983] such [5108] a charge [3852], thrust [906] them [846] into [1519] the inner [2082] prison [5438], and [2532] made [805] their [846] feet [4228] fast [805] in [1519] the stocks [3586].
25 And [1161] at [2596] midnight [3317] Paul [3972] and [2532] Silas [4609] prayed [4336], and sang praises [5214] unto God [2316]: and [1161] the prisoners [1198] heard [1874] them [846].
26 And [1161] suddenly [869] there was [1096] a great [3173] earthquake [4578], so that [5620] the foundations [2310] of the prison [1201] were shaken [4531]: and [5037] immediately [3916] all [3956] the doors [2374] were opened [455], and [2532] every one's [3956] bands [1199] were loosed [447].
27 And [1161] the keeper of the prison [1200] awaking [1096] out of his sleep [1853], and [2532] seeing [1492] the prison [5438] doors [2374] open [455], he drew out [4685] his sword [3162], and would [3195] have killed [337] himself [1438], supposing [3543] that the prisoners [1198] had been fled [1628].
28 But [1161] Paul [3972] cried [5455] with a loud [3173] voice [5456], saying [3004], Do [4238] thyself [4572] no [3367] harm [2556]: for [1063] we are [2070] all [537] here [1759].
29 Then [1161] he called [154] for a light [5457], and sprang in [1530], and [2532] came [1096] trembling [1790], and fell down before [4363] Paul [3972] and [2532] Silas [4609],
30 And [2532] brought [4254] them [846] out [1854], and said [5346], Sirs [2962], what [5101] must [1163] I [3165] do [4160] to [2443] be saved [4982]?
31 And [1161] they said [2036], Believe [4100] on [1909] the Lord [2962] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547], and [2532] thou [4771] shalt be saved [4982], and [2532] thy [4675] house [3624].
32 And [2532] they spake [2980] unto him [846] the word [3056] of the Lord [2962], and [2532] to all [3956] that were in [1722] his [846] house [3614].
33 And [2532] he took [3880] them [846] [1722] the same [1565] hour [5610] of the night [3571], and washed [3068] their stripes [575] [4127]; and [2532] was baptized [907], he [846] and [2532] all [3956] his [846], straightway [3916].
34 And [5037] when he had brought [321] them [846] into [1519] his house [3624], he set [3908] meat [5132] before them [3908], and [2532] rejoiced [21], believing [4100] in God [2316] with all [3832] his [846] house [3832].
20 And [2532] brought [4317] them [846] to the magistrates [4755], saying [2036], These [3778] men [444], being [5225] Jews [2453], do exceedingly trouble [1613] our [2257] city [4172],
21 And [2532] teach [2605] customs [1485], which [3739] are [1832] not [3756] lawful [1832] for us [2254] to receive [3858], neither [3761] to observe [4160], being [5607] Romans [4514].