Acts 16:12

12 and from thence to Philippi, that is the first part of Macedonia, the city colony [the city of colony]. And we were in this city some days, and spake together [speaking together].

Acts 16:12 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 16:12

And from thence to Philippi
This place is by Appianus called Datos, which was its original name; and by Diodorus Siculus, Crenidae ^F3, from the fountains of water, which were many and wholesome, that were about it; and it had its name Philippi, from Philip king of Macedon, father of Alexander the great, who rebuilt it ^F4: it is now vulgarly called Chrixopolis, that is, Chrysopolis, from the veins and mines of gold found about it; it was famous for a battle here fought between Augustus Caesar and Anthony on the one side, and Brutus and Cassius on the other, in which the latter were vanquished:

which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia;
which is called Edonis, in which Ptolomy places it;

and a colony:
that is, of the Romans; see ( Acts 16:37 Acts 16:38 ) and which Pliny ^F5 also calls a colony:

and we were in that city abiding many days;
without doing anything, having no opportunity, or door opened to them to preach the Gospel; which must be a great trial of their faith, after Paul had seen such a vision, by which they were so strongly assured it was the will of God they should come and preach the Gospel here, and after they had travelled so far by sea and land; though some observe, that the word used signifies not only to abide, but to exercise themselves, by teaching and preaching the word, which it is supposed they did with success; and that the women they after met with by the river side, were such, at least some of them, who had been converted under their ministry; but the former seems to be the truest sense.

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FOOTNOTES:

F3 Ptolom. Geograph. l. 3. c. 13.
F4 Pausaniae Eliac. 2. l. 6. p. 352. Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 4. c. 11.
F5 Ib.

Acts 16:12 In-Context

10 And as he had seen the vision, at once [anon] we sought to go forth into Macedonia, and were made certain, that God had called us to preach to them [made certain that God had called us to evangelize to them].

11 And we went by ship from Troas, and came to Samothracia with straight course [Soothly we going by boat, or sailing, from Troas, with straight course came to Samothracia]; and the day following to Neapolis;

12 and from thence to Philippi, that is the first part of Macedonia, the city colony [the city of colony]. And we were in this city some days, and spake together [speaking together].

13 And in the day of sabbaths we went forth without the gate beside the river, where prayer seemed to be [Soothly in the day of sabbaths, we went out without the gate beside the flood, where prayer was seen to be]; and we sat, and spake to women that came together.

14 And a woman [And some woman], Lydia by name, a purpless of the city of Thyatira, worshipping God, heard; whose heart the Lord opened to give attention to these things, that were said of Paul.