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.
And from thence to Philippi - about 10 miles inland, to the westward, and so called after Philip of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great, who built and fortified it.
Which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, х heetis (G3748) estin prootee (G4413) tees (G3588) meridos (G3310) tees (G3588) Makeedonias (G3109) polis (G4172)] - or, 'which is the first' or 'a chief city of the district of Macedonia.' In the former sense-`the first city' (as in the margin) - the meaning will be, the first city one comes to in Macedonia, proceeding from Neapolis. (So Bengel, Winer, Olshausen, Alford, Lechler.) But there seem decisive objections to this. If 'a chief city' (urbs primaria) be the meaning, it is to tell us that it had the distinction which that word, attached to certain places, conferred. (So DeWette, Humphry, Hackett, etc.) The former sense at one time seemed to us the preferable; but we now incline rather to the latter, which the next clause seems to favour.
And a (Roman) 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. Since the Pisidian Antioch and Troas were also 'colonies,' and yet are not so called by our historian, the fact is probably mentioned here of Philippi on account of the frequent references to Roman privileges and duties in the sequel of the chapter.
And we were in that city abiding certain days - reconnoitring the ground and waiting until the Sabbath should come round. As their rule was to begin with the Jews and religious proselytes, they would have nothing probably to do until the time when they knew that they would convene for public worship.
At Philippi, Lydia is Gained, and, with her Household, Baptized (16:13-15)