Philippi. The scene of the decisive battle which ended the Roman republic 42 B.C.
the chief city, &c. Literally the first of the district,. city of Macedonia,. colony. Amphipolis had been the chief city, and was still. rival of Philippi.
colony. Greek. kolonia. Only here.. Roman military settlement. The word survives in the names of some places in England, e.g. Lincoln. These colonies were settlements of old soldiers and others established by Augustus to influence the native people. Hence the significance of Acts 16:37.
abiding. Greek. diatribo. See note on Acts 12:19.