Topical Encyclopedia
Geographical Context:Samos is an island located in the eastern Aegean Sea, near the coast of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). It is part of the group of islands known as the Sporades. The island is characterized by its mountainous terrain and fertile valleys, which have historically supported a thriving agricultural community. Samos is renowned for its wine production and was an important cultural and commercial hub in ancient times.
Biblical Significance:Samos is mentioned in the New Testament in the context of the Apostle Paul's missionary journeys. In
Acts 20:15, the island is referenced as a waypoint during Paul's return trip to Jerusalem. The Berean Standard Bible states: "Sailing from there, we arrived the next day opposite Chios. The following day we crossed over to Samos, and on the next day we came to Miletus."
Historical and Cultural Background:In antiquity, Samos was known for its wealth and cultural achievements. It was the birthplace of several notable figures, including the mathematician Pythagoras and the philosopher Epicurus. The island was also famous for the Heraion, a large sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Hera, which was one of the largest temples in the Greek world.
During the Roman period, Samos maintained its significance as a center of trade and culture. The island's strategic location along maritime routes made it a frequent stop for travelers and merchants, including those spreading the message of Christianity.
Religious Context:The mention of Samos in the Book of Acts highlights the island's role in the spread of early Christianity. While the Bible does not provide detailed accounts of Christian activity on Samos, its inclusion in Paul's journey suggests that the island was part of the broader network of locations where the Gospel was preached.
The presence of early Christian communities in the region is supported by historical evidence of churches and Christian artifacts dating from the early centuries of the Christian era. These findings indicate that Samos, like many other parts of the Aegean, was receptive to the new faith.
Theological Implications:The brief mention of Samos in the New Testament serves as a reminder of the expansive reach of the early Christian mission. It underscores the commitment of the apostles to spread the Gospel to all corners of the known world, regardless of the challenges posed by geography or cultural differences.
Samos, as part of Paul's journey, symbolizes the interconnectedness of the early Christian communities and the importance of travel and communication in the dissemination of Christian teachings. The island's inclusion in the biblical narrative reflects the universality of the Christian message and its appeal across diverse cultures and regions.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Samosfull of gravel
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Samosa Greek island off that part of Asia Minor where Ionia touches Caria. Samos comes before our notice in the detailed account of St. Paul's return from his third missionary journey. (Acts 20:15)
ATS Bible Dictionary
SamosAn island of the Archipelago, on the coast of Asia Minor, opposite Lydia, from which it is separated by a narrow strait. The island was devoted to the worship of Juno, who had there a magnificent temple, fragments of which still exist. It was also celebrated for its valuable potteries, and as the birthplace of Pythagoras. The Romans wrote to the governor in favor of the Jews in the time of Simon Maccabaeus. Paul landed here when going to Jerusalem, A. D. 58,Acts 20:15. It now contains about fifty thousand inhabitants; and though ill-cultivated, is fruitful in oranges, grapes, and olives, and exports corn and wine.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
An island in the AEgean Sea, which Paul passed on his voyage from Assos to Miletus (
Acts 20:15), on his third missionary journey. It is about 27 miles long and 20 broad, and lies about 42 miles south-west of Smyrna.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
SAMOSsa'-mos (Samos, "height," "mountain" (see Strabo 346, 457)): One of the most famous of the Ionian islands, third in size among the group which includes Lesbos, CHIOS (which see) and Cos (which see). It is situated at the mouth of the bay of Ephesus, between the cities of EPHESUS and MILETUS (which see), and separated from the mainland of Ionia by the narrow strait where the Greeks met and conquered the Persian fleet in the battle of Mycale, 479 B.C. (Herodotus ix.100;). The surface of the island is very rugged and mountainous, Mt. Kerki (modern name) rising to a height of 4,700 ft., and it was due to this that the island received its name (see above).
See alsoSAMOTHRACE.
Samos was renowned in antiquity as one of the noted centers of Ionjan luxury, and reached its zenith of prosperity under the rule of the famous tyrant Polycrates (533-522 B.C.), who made himself master of the Aegean Sea. He carried on trade with Egypt, and his intercourse with that country, his friendship with Amasis, the famous "ring" story and the revolting manner of the death of Polycrates arere all told in one of the most interesting stories of Herodotus (Herod. iii.39;).
In 84 B.C., the island was joined to the province of Asia, and in 17 B.C. it became a civitas libera, through the favor of Augustus (Dio Cass. liv0.9; Pliny, NH, v.37). Both Marcus Agrippa and Herod visited the island; and according to Josephus (Ant., XVI, ii, 2; BJ, I, xxi, 11) "bestowed a great many benefits" on it. In the Apocrypha, Samos is mentioned among the places to which Lucius, consul of the Romans, wrote, asking their good will toward the Jews (1 Maccabees 15:23).
In the New Testament, Paul touched here, after passing CHIOS (which see), on his return from his third missionary journey (Acts 20:15). In Textus Receptus of the New Testament, we find in this passage kai meinantes en Trogullio ("and having remained in Trogyllium"). This reading is wanting in the oldest manuscripts, and may be a sort of gloss, or explanation; due to the technical use of paraballein, "to touch land" (compare Josephus, Ant, XVIII, vi, 4), and not necessarily "to make a landing." Trogyllium lay on the mainland opposite Samos, at the end of the ridge of Mycale. Still there is no particular reason why this reading should be supported, especially as it is not found in the earliest of authorities. Soden's 1913 text, however, retains the reading in brackets.
LITERATURE.
Tozer, Islands of the Aegean (1890). Herodotus and Pausanias have rather full accounts of Samos, and Encyclopedia Brit (11th edition) gives a good bibliography of works both ancient and modern.
Arthur J. Kinsella
Greek
4544.Samos --Samos, an island in the Aegean... 4543, 4544.
Samos. 4545 .
Samos, an island in the Aegean. Part of Speech:
Noun, Feminine Transliteration:
Samos Phonetic Spelling
...4543. Samothrake -- "Samos of Thrace," Samothrace, an island in...
... "Samos of Thrace... Word Origin fromSamos and Thrake (Thrace) Definition "Samos of
Thrace," Samothrace, an island in the Aegean NASB Word Usage Samothrace (1)....
Library
The Revolt of Babylon.
... cloak."He gives it to Darius."Syloson goes to Susa."Interview with Darius."Request
of Syloson."Darius grants it."Citadel ofSamos."Measures of...
Pythagoras; his Cosmogony; Rules of his Sect; Discoverer of...
... But there was also, not far from these times, another philosophy which Pythagoras
originated (who some say was a native ofSamos), which they have denominated...
Concerning the Same Opinion of the Stoics, and Concerning the...
... [79] Varro writes, that the islandSamos was before called Parthenia, because
Juno there grew up, and there also was married to Jupiter....
In the Next Place, as if He had Devoted Himself Solely to the...
... of Soli, who is considered to be an ornament of the Stoic sect, on account of his
numerous and learned treatises, explains a picture atSamos, in which Juno...
The Provinces.
... Mitrobates said that Oretes could not make any great pretensions to enterprise and
bravery so long as he allowed the Greek island ofSamos, which was situate...
The Law of Change, or Mutation, Universal.
... Even now her shape undergoes local mutations, when (some particular) spot is damaged;
when among her islands Delos is now no more,Samos a heap of sand, and...
Herodotus and Xenophon.
... Doubts as to the extent of Herodotus's tour."His history "adorned.""Herodotus's
credibility questioned."Sources of bias."Samos."Patmos."The...
A Letter of Mara, Son of Serapion.
... Or the people ofSamos by the burning of Pythagoras, seeing that in one hour
the whole [3481] of their country was covered with sand?...
How Herod Twice Sailed to Agrippa; and How Upon the Complaint in...
... but passed through Paphlagonia and Cappadocia; they then traveled thence over great
Phrygia, and came to Ephesus, and then they sailed from Ephesus toSamos....
The Absurdity and Shamefulness of the Images by which the Gods are...
... at Olympia, and that of Polias at Athens, were executed of gold and ivory by Phidias,
is known by everybody; and that the image of Here inSamos was formed by...
Thesaurus
Samos (1 Occurrence)... It is about 27 miles long and 20 broad, and lies about 42 miles south-west
of Smyrna. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
SAMOS. sa'-mos
...Samothrace (1 Occurrence)
... sam'-o-thras (Samothrake, "the ThracianSamos"; the King James Version Samothracia,
sam-o-thra'sha; the island was formerly Dardania; for change of name see...
Trogyllium (1 Occurrence)
... From the coast near Miletus the promontory projects into the sea toward the island
ofSamos; the strait separating the mainland from the island is scarcely a...
Kios (1 Occurrence)
... following day opposite Chios. The next day we touched atSamos and stayed at
Trogyllium, and the day after we came to Miletus. (See NIV)....
Opposite (137 Occurrences)
... Chios. The next day we touched atSamos and stayed at Trogyllium, and the
day after we came to Miletus. (WEB BBE DBY NAS RSV). Acts...
Over-against (156 Occurrences)
... Acts 20:15 and thence having sailed, on the morrow we came over-against Chios, and
the next day we arrived atSamos, and having remained in Trogyllium, on the...
Isle (15 Occurrences)
... and Patmos (Revelation 1:9), various islands are mentioned by name in connection
with the voyages of Paul, eg Cyprus, Crete, Lesbos,Samos, Samothrace, Chios...
Island (16 Occurrences)
... and Patmos (Revelation 1:9), various islands are mentioned by name in connection
with the voyages of Paul, eg Cyprus, Crete, Lesbos,Samos, Samothrace, Chios...
Touching (121 Occurrences)
... (ASV). Acts 20:15 And going from there by sea, we came on the day after opposite
Chios, and touching atSamos on the day after that, we came on the third day to...
Tarried (42 Occurrences)
... Acts 20:15 And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the
next day we arrived atSamos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we...
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