Acts 16

Out of the city (ἔξω τῆς πόλεως) The best texts read τύλης, the gate. River Probably the Gangas or Gangites. Where prayer was wont to be made (οὗ ἐνομίζετο προσευχὴ εἶναι) The best texts read ἐνομίζομεν προσευχὴν, where we supposed there was a place of prayer. The number of Jews in Philippi was small, since it was a military and not a mercantile city; consequently there was no synagogue, but only a proseucha, or praying-place, a slight structure, and often open to the sky. It was outside the gate, for the sake of retirement, and near a stream, because of the ablutions connected with the worship.

Lydia An adjective: the Lydian; but as Lydia was a common name among the Greeks and Romans, it does not follow that she was named from her native country. A seller of purple On purple, see note on Luke 16:19. Thyatira The district of Lydia, and the city of Thyatira in particular, were famous for purple dyes. So Homer: "As when some Carian or Maeonian dame Tinges with purple the white ivory, To form a trapping for the cheeks of steeds." Iliad, iv., 141. An inscription found in the ruins of Thyatira relates to the guild of dyers. Heard (ἤκουεν) Imperfect, was hearing while we preached.