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Acts 16:12

in Acts 16

From there we went to the Roman colony of Philippi, the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

and from thence to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the first of the district, a Roman colony: and we were in this city tarrying certain days.

KJV

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.

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This verse in Acts 16

Commentary

9 notes on this verse

A commentator

Bede

Commentary on Acts · Written before 735.

Which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. A colony is one that, due to the lack of natives, is filled with new settlers. Hence it is also called a colony from the cultivation of fields.

This site's exposition

loosing from Troas

on Acts 16:11-12

Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis, a favorable wind carrying the crossing in two days that would take five on the return at 20:6. From thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony brings the gospel onto European soil for the first time in the book, Philippi's status as a Roman colony populated largely by veteran soldiers shaping the citizenship dispute that surfaces later in the chapter. We were in that city abiding certain days, the mission settling in rather than passing through, matching the pattern of extended stays that mark the sites where a church takes root.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 34 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

"Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; and from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony." That is, even the voyage made this manifest: for there was no tardiness. It became the very root of Macedonia. It is a high distinction for a city, the being a colony. "And in this city we were tarrying certain days."

The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Why was not Paul introduced with solemnity, and the keys of the city put into his hand? Here is nothing like this; for, 1. It is a good while before any notice at all is taken of him: We were in that city abiding certain days, probably at a public house and at their own charge, for they had no friend to invite them so much as to a meal's meat, till Lydia welcomed them.

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

proposed

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.
And from thence to Philippi,....

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

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.
2 more voices on this verse

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

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.
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 words behind it

20 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

7 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

1 Thessalonians 2:2As you are aware, we had already endured suffering and shameful treatment in Philippi. But in the face of strong opposition, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God.9 worksPhilippians 1:1Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:5 worksActs 20:6And after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, we sailed from Philippi, and five days later we rejoined them in Troas, where we stayed seven days.4 works1 Thessalonians 1:7As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.2 worksActs 16:21by promoting customs that are unlawful for us Romans to adopt or practice.”2 worksActs 20:2After traveling through that area and speaking many words of encouragement, he arrived in Greece,2 works
The other 1 cross-references, with their words ▾
Acts 16:9During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”1 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Philippians 1:1

    Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:

    it leads to

    • 2 Corinthians 1:1

      Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:

    • Acts 16:12–15

      From there we went to the Roman colony of Philippi, the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.

    • Romans 1:1

      Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, and set apart for the gospel of God—

    • Colossians 1:1–2

      Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

    • 1 Timothy 3:8

      Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued or given to much wine or greedy for money.

  • Through

    1 Thessalonians 2:2

    As you are aware, we had already endured suffering and shameful treatment in Philippi. But in the face of strong opposition, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of…

    it leads to

    • Acts 16:22–24

      The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered that they be stripped and beaten with rods.

    • Acts 4:13

      When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus.

  • Through

    Acts 16:21

    by promoting customs that are unlawful for us Romans to adopt or practice.”

    it leads to

    • Esther 3:8

      Then Haman informed King Xerxes, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples of every province of your kingdom. Their laws are different from everyone else’s, and they do not obey…

Where this verse is studied

About Acts

The Ascension, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
The Ascension, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Acts: the study guide →Read Acts 16 →
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Acts; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 34; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and William Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen.

Read on in Acts 16 →