14, Lydia. An adjective: the Lydian ; but as Lydia was a common name among the Greeks and Romans, it does not fol- low that she was named from her native country.
A seller of purple. On purple, see note on Luke xvi. 19.
Thyatira. The district of Lydia, and the city of Thyatira in particular, were famous for purple dyes. So Homer:
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** As when some Carian or Maeonian * dame Tinges with purple the white ivory, To form a trapping for the cheeks of steeds.” Itiad, iv., 141.
An inscription found in the ruins of Thyatira relates to the guild of dyers.
Heard (jxovev). Imperfect, was hearing while we preached.
15. Constrained (zapeBiacaro). Only here and Luke xxiv. 29, on which see note. The constraint was from ardent grati- tude.
16. Damsel. See on ch. xii. 13.
Spirit of divination (avedua TvSwva). Lit., a spirit, a Python. Python, in the Greek mythology, was the serpent which guarded Delphi. According to the legend, as related in the Homeric hymn, Apollo descended from Olympus in order to select a site for his shrine and oracle. Having fixed upon a spot on the southern side of Mount Parnassus, he found it guarded by a vast and terrific serpent, which he slew with an arrow, and suffered its body to vot (wuSetv) in the sun. Hence the name of the serpent Python (rotting); Pytho, the name of the place, and the epithet Pythian, applied to Apollo. The name Python was subsequently used to denote a prophetic de- mon, and was also used of soothsayers who practised ventrilo- quism, or speaking from the belly. The word éyyactpiuv9os, ventriloquist, occurs in the Septuagint, and is rendered hawing a familiar spirit (see Levit. xix. 81; xx. 6, 27; 1 Sam. xxviii. 7, 8). The heathen inhabitants of Philippi regarded the woman as inspired by Apollo; and Luke, in recording this case, which came under his own observation, uses the term which would naturally suggest itself to a Greek physician, a Python- spirit, presenting phenomena identical with the convulsive movements and wild cries of the Pythian priestess at Delphi.
* Caria, the province adjoining Lydia on the south; Maeonia, the ancient name of Lydia,
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Soothsaying (wavtevouévn). Akin to paivomat, to rave, in allusion to the temporary madness which possessed the priestess or sibyl while under the influence of the god. Compare Vir- gil’s description of the Cumaean Sibyl :
‘¢ And as the word she spake Within the door, all suddenly her visage and her hue Were changed, and all her sleekéd hair and gasping breath she drew, And with the rage her wild heart swelled, and greater was she grown, Nor mortal-voiced ; for breath of god upon her heart was blown
As he drew nigher.” Aeneid, vi., 45 sq.
18. Grieved (SvavovnSels). Not strong enough. Rather, worn out. Both grieved at the sad condition of the woman, and thoroughly annoyed and indignant at the continued demon- strations of the evil spirit which possessed her. Compare ch. avatee
19. Was gone (é&7\3ev). Went owt with the evil spirit.
20. Magistrates (otpatnyois). Their usual name was duwm- viri, answering to the consuls of Rome; but they took pride in calling themselves otpatnyol, or praetors, as being a more honorable title. This is the only place in the Acts where Luke
applies the term to the rulers of a city. See Introduction to Luke.
Jews. Who at this time were in special disgrace, having been lately banished from Rome by Clandius (see Acts xviii. 2). The Philippians do not appear to have recognized the distinc- tion between Christians and Jews.
21. Being Romans. The Romans granted absolute tolera- tion to conquered nations to follow their own religious customs, and took the gods of these countries under their protection. Otho, Domitian, Commodus, and Caracalla were zealous parti- sans of the worship of Isis; Serapis and Cybele were patronized at Rome; and in the reign of Nero the religions dilettanti at Rome affected Judaism, and professed to honor the name of Moses and the sacred books. Poppaea, Nero’s consort, was