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Selected Verse: 1 Peter 5:13 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
1Pe 5:13	Strong Concordance	The church that is at [1722] Babylon [897], elected together with [4899] you, saluteth [782] you [5209]; and [2532] so doth Marcus [3138] my [3450] son [5207].
	King James	The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
The . . . at Babylon--ALFORD, BENGEL, and others translate, "She that is elected together with you in Babylon," namely, Peter's wife, whom he led about with him in his missionary journeys. Compare Pe1 3:7, "heirs together of the grace of life." But why she should be called "elected together with you in Babylon," as if there had been no Christian woman in Babylon besides, is inexplicable on this view. In English Version the sense is clear: "That portion of the whole dispersion (Pe1 1:1, Greek), or Church of Christianized Jews, with Gentile converts, which resides in Babylon." As Peter and John were closely associated, Peter addresses the Church in John's peculiar province, Asia, and closes with "your co-elect sister Church at Babylon saluteth you"; and John similarly addresses the "elect lady," that is, the Church in Babylon, and closes with "the children of thine elect sister (the Asiatic Church) greet thee"; (compare Introduction to Second John). ERASMUS explains, "Mark who is in the place of a son to me": compare Act 12:12, implying Peter's connection with Mark; whence the mention of him in connection with the Church at Babylon, in which he labored under Peter before he went to Alexandria is not unnatural. PAPIAS reports from the presbyter John [EUSEBIUS, Ecclesiastical History, 3.39], that Mark was interpreter of Peter, recording in his Gospel the facts related to him by Peter. Silvanus or Silas had been substituted for John Mark, as Paul's companion, because of Mark's temporary unfaithfulness. But now Mark restored is associated with Silvanus, Paul's companion, in Peter's esteem, as Mark was already reinstated in Paul's esteem. That Mark had a spiritual connection with the Asiatic' churches which Peter addresses, and so naturally salutes them, appears from Ti2 4:11; Col 4:10. Babylon--The Chaldean Babylon on the Euphrates. See Introduction, ON THE PLACE OF WRITING this Epistle, in proof that Rome is not meant as Papists assert; compare LIGHTFOOT sermon. How unlikely that in a friendly salutation the enigmatical title of Rome given in prophecy (John, Rev 17:5), should be used! Babylon was the center from which the Asiatic dispersion whom Peter addresses was derived. PHILO [The Embassy to Gaius, 36] and JOSEPHUS [Antiquities, 15.2.2; 23.12] inform us that Babylon contained a great many Jews in the apostolic age (whereas those at Rome were comparatively few, about eight thousand [JOSEPHUS, Antiquities, 17.11]); so it would naturally be visited by the apostle of the circumcision. It was the headquarters of those whom he had so successfully addressed on Pentecost, Act 2:9, Jewish "Parthians . . . dwellers in Mesopotamia" (the Parthians were then masters of Mesopotamian Babylon); these he ministered to in person. His other hearers, the Jewish "dwellers in Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia," he now ministers to by letter. The earliest distinct authority for Peter's martyrdom at Rome is DIONYSIUS, bishop of Corinth, in the latter half of the second century. The desirableness of representing Peter and Paul, the two leading apostles, as together founding the Church of the metropolis, seems to have originated the tradition. CLEMENT OF ROME [First Epistle to the Corinthians, 4.5], often quoted for, is really against it. He mentions Paul and Peter together, but makes it as a distinguishing circumstance of Paul, that he preached both in the East and West, implying that Peter never was in the West. In Pe2 1:14, he says, "I must shortly put off this tabernacle," implying his martyrdom was near, yet he makes no allusion to Rome, or any intention of his visiting it.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

The . . . at Babylon--ALFORD, BENGEL, and others translate, "She that is elected together with you in Babylon," namely, Peter's wife, whom he led about with him in his missionary journeys. Compare Pe1 3:7, "heirs together of the grace of life." But why she should be called "elected together with you in Babylon," as if there had been no Christian woman in Babylon besides, is inexplicable on this view. In English Version the sense is clear: "That portion of the whole dispersion (Pe1 1:1, Greek), or Church of Christianized Jews, with Gentile converts, which resides in Babylon." As Peter and John were closely associated, Peter addresses the Church in John's peculiar province, Asia, and closes with "your co-elect sister Church at Babylon saluteth you"; and John similarly addresses the "elect lady," that is, the Church in Babylon, and closes with "the children of thine elect sister (the Asiatic Church) greet thee"; (compare Introduction to Second John). ERASMUS explains, "Mark who is in the place of a son to me": compare Act 12:12, implying Peter's connection with Mark; whence the mention of him in connection with the Church at Babylon, in which he labored under Peter before he went to Alexandria is not unnatural. PAPIAS reports from the presbyter John [EUSEBIUS, Ecclesiastical History, 3.39], that Mark was interpreter of Peter, recording in his Gospel the facts related to him by Peter. Silvanus or Silas had been substituted for John Mark, as Paul's companion, because of Mark's temporary unfaithfulness. But now Mark restored is associated with Silvanus, Paul's companion, in Peter's esteem, as Mark was already reinstated in Paul's esteem. That Mark had a spiritual connection with the Asiatic' churches which Peter addresses, and so naturally salutes them, appears from Ti2 4:11; Col 4:10.

Babylon--The Chaldean Babylon on the Euphrates. See Introduction, ON THE PLACE OF WRITING this Epistle, in proof that Rome is not meant as Papists assert; compare LIGHTFOOT sermon. How unlikely that in a friendly salutation the enigmatical title of Rome given in prophecy (John, Rev 17:5), should be used! Babylon was the center from which the Asiatic dispersion whom Peter addresses was derived. PHILO [The Embassy to Gaius, 36] and JOSEPHUS [Antiquities, 15.2.2; 23.12] inform us that Babylon contained a great many Jews in the apostolic age (whereas those at Rome were comparatively few, about eight thousand [JOSEPHUS, Antiquities, 17.11]); so it would naturally be visited by the apostle of the circumcision. It was the headquarters of those whom he had so successfully addressed on Pentecost, Act 2:9, Jewish "Parthians . . . dwellers in Mesopotamia" (the Parthians were then masters of Mesopotamian Babylon); these he ministered to in person. His other hearers, the Jewish "dwellers in Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia," he now ministers to by letter. The earliest distinct authority for Peter's martyrdom at Rome is DIONYSIUS, bishop of Corinth, in the latter half of the second century. The desirableness of representing Peter and Paul, the two leading apostles, as together founding the Church of the metropolis, seems to have originated the tradition. CLEMENT OF ROME [First Epistle to the Corinthians, 4.5], often quoted for, is really against it. He mentions Paul and Peter together, but makes it as a distinguishing circumstance of Paul, that he preached both in the East and West, implying that Peter never was in the West. In Pe2 1:14, he says, "I must shortly put off this tabernacle," implying his martyrdom was near, yet he makes no allusion to Rome, or any intention of his visiting it.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you - It will be seen at once that much of this is supplied by our translators; the words "church that is" not being in the original. The Greek is, ἡ ἐν Βαβυλῶνι συνεκλεκτὴ hē en Babulōni suneklektē; and might refer to a church, or to a female. Wall, Mill, and some others, suppose that the reference is to a Christian woman, perhaps the wife of Peter himself. Compare Jo2 1:1. But the Arabic, Syriac, and Vulgate, as well as the English versions, supply the word "church." This interpretation seems to be confirmed by the word rendered "elected together with" - συνεκλεκτὴ suneklektē. This word would be properly used in reference to one individual if writing to another individual, but would hardly be appropriate as applied to an individual addressing a church. It could not readily be supposed, moreover, that any one female in Babylon could have such a prominence, or be so well known, that nothing more would be necessary to designate her than merely to say, "the elect female." On the word Babylon here, and the place denoted by it, see the introduction, section 2. And so doth Marcus my son - Probably John Mark. See the notes at Act 12:12; Act 15:37. Why he was now with Peter is unknown. If this was the Mark referred to, then the word son is a title of affection, and is used by Peter with reference to his own superior age. It is possible, however, that some other Mark may be referred to, in whose conversion Peter had been instrumental.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
The church The word is not in the Greek, but is supplied with the feminine definite article ἡ. There is, however, a difference of opinion as to the meaning of this feminine article. Some suppose a reference to Peter's own wife; others, to some prominent Christian woman in the church. Compare Jo2 1:1. The majority of interpreters, however, refer it to the church. Babylon Some understand in a figurative sense, as meaning Rome; others, literally, of Babylon on the Euphrates. In favor of the former view are the drift of ancient opinion and the Roman Catholic interpreters, with Luther and several noted modern expositors, as Ewald and Hoffmann. This, too, is the view of Canon Cook in the "Speaker's Commentary." In favor of the literal interpretation are the weighty names of Alford, Huther, Calvin, Neander, Weiss, and Reuss. Professor Salmond, in his admirable commentary on this epistle, has so forcibly summed up the testimony that we cannot do better than to give his comment entire: "In favor of this allegorical interpretation it is urged that there are other occurrences of Babylon in the New Testament as a mystical name for Rome (Rev 14:8; Rev 18:2, Rev 18:10); that it is in the highest degree unlikely that Peter should have made the Assyrian Babylon his residence or missionary centre, especially in view of a statement by Josephus indicating that the Emperor Claudius had expelled the Jews from that city and neighborhood; and that tradition connects Peter with Rome, but not with Babylon. The fact, however, that the word is mystically used in a mystical book like the Apocalypse - a book, too, which is steeped in the spirit and terminology of the Old Testament - is no argument for the mystical use of the word in writings of a different type. The allegorical interpretation becomes still less likely when it is observed that other geographical designations in this epistle (Pe1 1:1) have undoubtedly the literal meaning. The tradition itself, too, is uncertain. The statement in Josephus does not bear all that it is made to bear. There is no reason to suppose that, at the time when this epistle was written, the city of Rome was currently known among Christians as Babylon. On the contrary, wherever it is mentioned in the New Testament, with the single exception of the Apocalypse (and even there it is distinguished as 'Babylon, the great'), it gets its usual name, Rome. So far, too, from the Assyrian Babylon being practically in a deserted state at this date, there is very good ground for believing that the Jewish population (not to speak of the heathen) of the city and vicinity was very considerable. For these and other reasons a succession of distinguished interpreters and historians, from Erasmus and Calvin, on to Neander, Weiss, Reuss, Huther, etc., have rightly held by the literal sense." Marcus Rev., Mark. John Mark, the author of the gospel. See Introduction to Mark, on his relations to Peter. My son Probably in a spiritual sense, though some, as Bengel, think that Peter's own son is referred to.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
The church that is at Babylon - Near which St. Peter probably was, when he wrote this epistle. Elected together with you - Partaking of the same faith with you. Mark - It seems the evangelist. My son - Probably converted by St. Peter. And he had occasionally served him, "as a son in the gospel."

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
The Church that is at Babylon - After considering all that has been said by learned men and critics on this place, I am quite of opinion that the apostle does not mean Babylon in Egypt, nor Jerusalem, nor Rome as figurative Babylon, but the ancient celebrated Babylon in Assyria, which was, as Dr. Benson observes, the metropolis of the eastern dispersion of the Jews; but as I have said so much on this subject in the preface, I beg leave to refer the reader to that place. Instead of Babylon, some MSS. mentioned by Syncellus in his Chronicon have Ιοππῃ, Joppa; and one has Ῥωμῃ, Rome, in the margin, probably as the meaning, according to the writer, of the word Babylon. Elected together with you - Συνεκλεκτη· Fellow elect, or elected jointly with you. Probably meaning that they, and the believers at Babylon, received the Gospel about the same time. On the election of those to whom St. Peter wrote, see the notes on Pe1 1:2. And ...Marcus my son - This is supposed to be the same person who is mentioned Act 12:12, and who is known by the name of John Mark; he was sister's son to Barnabas, Col 4:10, his mother's name was Mary, and he is the same who wrote the gospel that goes under his name. He is called here Peter's son, i.e. according to the faith, Peter having been probably the means of his conversion. This is very likely, as Peter seems to have been intimate at his mother's house. See the account, Act 12:6-17.

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¹⁴ Knowing [1492] that [3754] shortly [5031] I must [2076] put off [595] this my [3450] tabernacle [4638], even [2532] as [2531] our [2257] Lord [2962] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547] hath shewed [1213] me [3427].

⁹ Parthians [3934], and [2532] Medes [3370], and [2532] Elamites [1639], and [2532] the dwellers [2730] in Mesopotamia [3318], and [5037] in Judaea [2449], and [2532] Cappadocia [2587], in Pontus [4195], and [2532] Asia [773],

⁵ And [2532] upon [1909] her [846] forehead [3359] was a name [3686] written [1125], MYSTERY [3466], BABYLON [897] THE GREAT [3173], THE MOTHER [3384] OF HARLOTS [4204] AND [2532] ABOMINATIONS [946] OF THE EARTH [1093].

¹⁰ Aristarchus [708] my [3450] fellowprisoner [4869] saluteth [782] you [5209], and [2532] Marcus [3138], sister's son [431] to Barnabas [921], (touching [4012] whom [3739] ye received [2983] commandments [1785]: if [1437] he come [2064] unto [4314] you [5209], receive [1209] him [846];)

¹¹ Only [3441] Luke [3065] is [2076] with [3326] me [1700]. Take [353] Mark [3138], and bring him [71] with [3326] thee [4572]: for [1063] he is [2076] profitable [2173] to me [3427] for [1519] the ministry [1248].

¹² And [5037] when he had considered [4894] the thing, he came [2064] to [1909] the house [3614] of Mary [3137] the mother [3384] of John [2491], whose surname was [1941] Mark [3138]; where [3757] many [2425] were [2258] gathered together [4867] praying [2532] [4336].

¹ Peter [4074], an apostle [652] of Jesus [2424] Christ [5547], to the strangers [3927] scattered [1290] throughout Pontus [4195], Galatia [1053], Cappadocia [2587], Asia [773], and [2532] Bithynia [978],

⁷ Likewise [3668], ye husbands [435], dwell with [4924] them according to [2596] knowledge [1108], giving [632] honour [5092] unto the wife [1134], as [5613] unto the weaker [772] vessel [4632], and [2532] as [5613] being heirs together [4789] of the grace [5485] of life [2222]; that [1519] your [5216] prayers [4335] be [1581] not [3361] hindered [1581].

³⁷ And [1161] Barnabas [921] determined [1011] to take with them [4838] John [2491], whose surname was [2564] Mark [3138].

¹ The elder [4245] unto the elect [1588] lady [2959] and [2532] her [846] children [5043], whom [3739] I [1473] love [25] in [1722] the truth [225]; and [2532] not [3756] I [1473] only [3441], but [235] also [2532] all [3956] they that have known [1097] the truth [225];

¹⁰ Standing [2476] afar [3113] off [575] for [1223] the fear [5401] of her [846] torment [929], saying [3004], Alas [3759], alas [3759], that great [3173] city [4172] Babylon [897], that mighty [2478] city [4172]! for [3754] in [1722] one [3391] hour [5610] is [2064] thy [4675] judgment [2920] come [2064].

² And [2532] he cried [2896] mightily [2479] with [1722] a strong [3173] voice [5456], saying [3004], Babylon [897] the great [3173] is fallen [4098], is fallen [4098], and [2532] is become [1096] the habitation [2732] of devils [1142], and [2532] the hold [5438] of every [3956] foul [169] spirit [4151], and [2532] a cage [5438] of every [3956] unclean [169] and [2532] hateful [3404] bird [3732].

⁸ And [2532] there followed [190] another [243] angel [32], saying [3004], Babylon [897] is fallen [4098], is fallen [4098], that great [3173] city [4172], because [3754] she made [4222] all [3956] nations [1484] drink [4222] of [1537] the wine [3631] of the wrath [2372] of her [846] fornication [4202].

⁶ And [1161] when [3753] Herod [2264] would [3195] have brought [4254] him [846] forth [4254], the same [1565] night [3571] Peter [4074] was [2258] sleeping [2837] between [3342] two [1417] soldiers [4757], bound [1210] with two [1417] chains [254]: and [5037] the keepers [5441] before [4253] the door [2374] kept [5083] the prison [5438].
⁷ And [2532], behold [2400], the angel [32] of the Lord [2962] came upon [2186] him, and [2532] a light [5457] shined [2989] in [1722] the prison [3612]: and [1161] he smote [3960] Peter [4074] on the side [4125], and raised [1453] him [846] up [1453], saying [3004], Arise up [450] quickly [1722] [5034]. And [2532] his [846] chains [254] fell off [1601] from [1537] his hands [5495].
⁸ And [5037] the angel [32] said [2036] unto [4314] him [846], Gird thyself [4024], and [2532] bind on [5265] thy [4675] sandals [4547]. And [1161] so [3779] he did [4160]. And [2532] he saith [3004] unto him [846], Cast [4016] thy garment [2440] about [4016] thee [4675], and [2532] follow [190] me [3427].
⁹ And [2532] he went out [1831], and followed [190] him [846]; and [2532] wist [1492] not [3756] that [3754] it was [2076] true [227] which [3588] was done [1096] by [1223] the angel [32]; but [1161] thought [1380] he saw [991] a vision [3705].
¹⁰ When [1161] they were past [1330] the first [4413] and [2532] the second [1208] ward [5438], they came [2064] unto [1909] the iron [4603] gate [4439] that leadeth [5342] unto [1519] the city [4172]; which [3748] opened [455] to them [846] of his own accord [844]: and [2532] they went out [1831], and passed on through [4281] one [3391] street [4505]; and [2532] forthwith [2112] the angel [32] departed [868] from [575] him [846].
¹¹ And [2532] when Peter [4074] was come [1096] to [1722] himself [1438], he said [2036], Now [3568] I know [1492] of a surety [230], that [3754] the Lord [2962] hath sent [1821] his [846] angel [32], and [2532] hath delivered [1807] me [3165] out of [1537] the hand [5495] of Herod [2264], and [2532] from all [3956] the expectation [4329] of the people [2992] of the Jews [2453].
¹² And [5037] when he had considered [4894] the thing, he came [2064] to [1909] the house [3614] of Mary [3137] the mother [3384] of John [2491], whose surname was [1941] Mark [3138]; where [3757] many [2425] were [2258] gathered together [4867] praying [2532] [4336].
¹³ And [1161] as Peter [4074] knocked at [2925] the door [2374] of the gate [4440], a damsel [3814] came [4334] to hearken [5219], named [3686] Rhoda [4498].
¹⁴ And [2532] when she knew [1921] Peter's [4074] voice [5456], she opened [455] not [3756] the gate [4440] for [575] gladness [5479], but [1161] ran in [1532], and told how [518] Peter [4074] stood [2476] before [4253] the gate [4440].
¹⁵ And [1161] they said [2036] unto [4314] her [846], Thou art mad [3105]. But [1161] she constantly affirmed [1340] that it was [2192] even so [3779]. Then [1161] said they [3004], It is [2076] his [846] angel [32].
¹⁶ But [1161] Peter [4074] continued [1961] knocking [2925]: and [1161] when they had opened [455] the door, and saw [1492] him [846], [2532] they were astonished [1839].
¹⁷ But [1161] he, beckoning [2678] unto them [846] with the hand [5495] to hold their peace [4601], declared [1334] unto them [846] how [4459] the Lord [2962] had brought [1806] him [846] out of [1537] the prison [5438]. And [1161] he said [2036], Go shew [518] these things [5023] unto James [2385], and [2532] to the brethren [80]. And [2532] he departed [1831], and went [4198] into [1519] another [2087] place [5117].

² Elect [1588] according [2596] to the foreknowledge [4268] of God [2316] the Father [3962], through [1722] sanctification [38] of the Spirit [4151], unto [1519] obedience [5218] and [2532] sprinkling [4473] of the blood [129] of Jesus [2424] Christ [5547]: Grace [5485] unto you [5213], and [2532] peace [1515], be multiplied [4129].