The oration of Dion Chrysostom, delivered in C. in the early part of the 2nd cent. (Or. .■?7), gives a lively idea of the prosperity of C. ; he de.scribes it as the most prominent and the richest city of Greece (vol. ii. p. 120, ed. Reiske), and alludes to its library, but enlarges chiefly on the historical and mythological associations. Half a century later Aelius Aristides in an oration ' to Poseidon,' del'.vered at C. in connexion with the Isthmian Gaines, also draws a picture of the city, enlarging more on the educated and literary spirit manifested there. About the same period Pausanias de- scribes its history and monuments and public buildings (ii. c. 1-4) : the old temple of Aphrodite, on the top of the Acrocorinthus ; the sacred fountain Peirene on its side, close under the summit ; below this the Sisypheum ; in the lower city the Agora, with its temples and statues, and .so on. The coinage of the Rom. colony proves, by the numerous types taken from old Corinthian history and mythology, the pride which was felt by the Roman C. in the ancient memories of the city ; and at once illustrates aiid conlirms the testimony of Dion and Aristides. This feeling in the colony must be taken into account in estimat- ing its character when St. Paul visited it ; and the subject is admirably treated by Imhoof-Blumer and Gardner in their Xiimisindtic CoiiDiirntdry an Pati.ianias (see Journal of Hellenic tlludies, vi. 1885, pp. 69-77). It must, however, be remembered that the colonial coins used by them are generally later than the timet of St. Paul, and that this feel-
• The.ie traces, which have been entirely obliterated by the modern canal, are docribed, and a map plven showing' the line Intended to be followed bv Nero's canal, In SuUetin de Corrtr sjwnd. BelUnique, viU, (iSM) p. 22S f.
COKINTH
CORIXTH
i61
iiig grew stronger in the 2nd cent, as the Horn, blood and spirit died out on a foreign and uncon- genial soil. The circumference of the lower city was 40 stadia, and the circumference of the forliti- calions, including in their circuit the Acrocorinthus, was 85 stadia (about 10 uiilcs), ;us I'ausanias and Strabo agree. Only scanty and unimpressive re- mains of ancient buildings now remain.
The population of such a colony as C. would consist (1) of the descendants of the Koni. coloni, established there in li.c. 4(>, who would on the whole constitute a sort of local aristocracy ; (2) of many resident ' liomans' who came for Commercial reasons, in addition to a few resident officials of the government ; (3) of a large Greek population, who ranked as incoke ; (4) of many other resident strangers of various nationalities, attracted to C. for various reasons, amid the busy intercourse that characterized the Kom. world. The Kom. colonial blood had not yet had time to melt into the tireek stock, as it probably did in the cent, or two follow- ing St. Paul's visit. Among the resident strangers it is clear that a considerable colony of Jews existed at C, where they had a synagogue (Ac 18*); and in such a commercial centre a .Jewish settle- ment was a matter of course. Among the Corin- thian Jews a certain number of converts, including some of the most prominent persons, joined St. I'aul (Ac 18*- », Ko lG-\ 1 Co 9'^) ; and thus was, doubtless, one of the reasons why the feeling against St. Paul was so strong in the city, leatling even to a plot against his life (Ac 20*). It is clear, however, both from Ac and from the two letters of .•^t. Paul to the Cr>rinthians, that the Church con- sisted chiefly of non-Jews (see esp. 1 Co 12^). But the presence in the Church of some influential Jews, and proljably of a considerable number of (iintiles who had previously been brought under thi^ influence of the synagogue (such as I'itus Justus, Ac 18'), constituted an element always likely to caiLSC that strong Judaizing tendency which is revealed in St. Paul's letters.
St. Paul visited C. at lirst without any definite intention of making it a great centre of his work (Ac 18'). He Wiis still under the impression that his call to Macedonia (Ac Hi'-'- '") was operative ; and he was eager to return to Macedonia, and sjiecially to Thessalonica (1 Th 2'"- "), but was pre- vented by various circumstances and imi)ediments (which he sums up in the expression 'Satan hindered us'). It would appear fr<mi the narrative of Ac 17' ■, I«'r- that in Athens, and at first in C, St. Paul was still strongly posses.scd with the JIaccdonian scheme, and was only delaying his return thither until the difficulties were cleared away. But a special revelation (Ac 18"- ''') altered his plans, when in a night-vision the Lord directed him to speak freely and boldly in C, 'for I have much people in this city.' St. Paul regarded this as releasing I'im from the Macedonian duty, and now directed his work entirely towards the new sphere, in which he remained altogether for a year and six months. It is not state<l what period had elapsed between his arrival and this revelation ; Init, in all prob- ability, no very long time intervened. It is at least clear that the new governor Junius Gallio arrived after the revelation, and during the second pi'riod of work, which was directed towards the new Achaian sphere. But evidently even during the first period St. Paul had been encouraged by considerable success in C. In the Jewish synagogue, indeed, he had met with strong opposition, and had already found himself obliged to break off his connexion delinitely with his own nation, and to go unto the fientilis (Ac 18") from henceforth (i.e. during the rest of his slay in C). But even among the .lews, Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed with all his house : while among the