Topical Encyclopedia
Mitylene, the chief city of the island of Lesbos in the northeastern Aegean Sea, holds a place of significance in the New Testament narrative, particularly in the missionary journeys of the Apostle Paul. Known for its strategic location and vibrant culture, Mitylene was a prominent center in the ancient world.
Biblical References:Mitylene is mentioned in the Book of Acts, specifically in
Acts 20:14: "When he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went on to Mitylene." This passage is part of the account of Paul's third missionary journey. After leaving Troas, Paul traveled overland to Assos, where he joined his companions who had sailed there. From Assos, they continued their journey by sea to Mitylene.
Historical and Cultural Context:Mitylene was a significant city in the Roman province of Asia, known for its intellectual and cultural contributions. The city was famous for its schools of philosophy and poetry, and it was the birthplace of several notable figures in ancient Greek literature, including the poet Sappho. The city's prosperity was largely due to its advantageous position on the island of Lesbos, which facilitated trade and communication across the Aegean Sea.
During the Roman period, Mitylene enjoyed a degree of autonomy and was a free city, which allowed it to maintain its own local government and customs. This status likely contributed to its continued prominence and influence in the region.
Paul's Visit to Mitylene:Paul's brief visit to Mitylene, as recorded in
Acts 20, was part of his journey from Macedonia to Jerusalem. The apostle was eager to reach Jerusalem by Pentecost, and his itinerary reflects a sense of urgency. The stop at Mitylene was likely a practical one, as the city served as a convenient harbor for the ship carrying Paul and his companions.
While the biblical text does not provide details about any specific activities or interactions Paul had in Mitylene, his presence there underscores the city's role as a waypoint in the spread of the Gospel. The journey through Mitylene and other cities in the region highlights the interconnectedness of the early Christian communities and the strategic routes used by missionaries to disseminate the teachings of Christ.
Archaeological and Modern Insights:Today, Mitylene is known as Mytilene, the capital of the modern Greek island of Lesbos. Archaeological findings in the area have provided insights into the city's ancient past, revealing remnants of its classical and Roman heritage. These discoveries help to illuminate the historical backdrop against which the events of the New Testament unfolded.
The city's enduring legacy as a center of culture and learning continues to be celebrated, and its biblical connection adds a layer of spiritual significance for those who study the journeys of the Apostle Paul and the early Christian church.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Mitylenepurity; cleansing; press
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Mitylene(mutilated), the chief town of Lesbos, an island of the AEgean Sea, 7 1/2 miles from the opposite point of Asia Minor. The city is situated on the east coast of the island. Mitylene is the intermediate place where St. Paul stopped for the night between Assos and Chios. (Acts 20:14,15) The town itself was celebrated in Roman times for the beauty of its buildings. In St. Paul's day it had the privileges of a free city. (It is now a place of no importance, calledMitelin . It contains about 1100 houses, Greek and Turkish, with narrow and filthy streets. --ED.)
ATS Bible Dictionary
MityleneThe ancient capital of the island of Lesbos; a seaport on the east side of the island, towards Asia Minor. Paul touched there on his way from Greece to Jerusalem,Acts 20:14. The island is now called Mitelino; and the ruins of the city still exist near Castro.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
The chief city of the island of Lesbos, on its east coast, in the AEgean Sea. Paul, during his third missionary journey, touched at this place on his way from Corinth to Judea (
Acts 20:14), and here tarried for a night. It lies between Assos and Chios. It is now under the Turkish rule, and bears the name of Metelin.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
MITYLENEmit-i-le'-ne, mit-i-lye'-nye (Mitulene, or Mutilene as usually on coins):
1. Importance and History:
In antiquity the most important city of the Asiatic Aeolians and of the island of Lesbos. It had 2 harbors and strong fortresses. The city was noted for its high culture and for its zeal for art and science from the earliest times. The island, under the leadership of Mitylene, revolted in 428 B.C. from the Athenian confederacy. The city was besieged by the Athenians and finally taken. The inhabitants of Mitylene were treated with great severity; the walls were dismantled, and the city was deprived of its power on the sea. In the time of Alexander the Great, Mitylene suffered most through the Persians, and later by the occupation of the Macedonians, but afterward regained its power and prosperity, and still later was favored by the Roman emperors, being made a free city by Pompey.
In the Middle Ages, the name Mitylene was applied to the whole island. The present capital, often called simply Castro, has a large castle built on the site of the ancient acropolis (in 1373). The city was conquered by the Turks in 1462. It contains 14 mosques, 7 churches, and has a population of about 15,000.
2. Paul's Visit:
On his third missionary journey, Paul traveled to the Hellespont from Philippi, thence through the Troad by land to Assos on the southern side-where extensive excavations were carried on in 1881 by an American archaeological expedition-thence by ship to Mitylene (Acts 20:14), where he spent the night. Leaving Lesbos, he sailed southward to a point opposite the island of Chios (Acts 20:15). There is no record that a Christian church had been established in Mitylene at this time.
LITERATURE.
Tozer, Islands of the Aegean, 121, 134, 136; Ramsay, Paul the Traveler, 291;.
J. E. Harry
Greek
3412. Mitulene --Mitylene, the chief city of Lesbos...Mitylene, the chief city of Lesbos. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration:
Mitulene Phonetic Spelling: (mit-oo-lay'-nay) Short Definition:
Mitylene...Library
That the Inventors of Other Arts were Mostly Barbarians.
... These things are reported by Scamo ofMitylene, Theophrastus of Ephesus, Cydippus
of Mantinea, also Antiphanes, Aristodemus, and Aristotle; and besides these...
Paul's Journeys Acts 13:1-38:31
... twenty miles on foot. At Assos Paul joined the company on the ship and
they sailed from Assos toMitylene. "And we sailed thence...
S. Andrew of Crete.
... on S. Titus, Apostle of Crete. He died in the island of Hierissus, near
Mitylene, about the year 732. As a poet, his most ambitious...
Evening Hymn.
... It is, to the scattered hamlets of Chios andMitylene, what Bishop Ken's Evening
Hymn is to the villages of our own land; and its melody singularly plaintive...
Succession of Philosophers in Greece.
... Of whom four were of Asia"Thales of Miletus, and Bias of Priene, Pittacus ofMitylene,
and Cleobulus of Lindos; and two of Europe, Solon the Athenian, and...
Thales; his Physics and Theology; Founder of Greek Astronomy.
... And he lived about the time of Croesus. Footnotes: [40] [These were: Periander of
Corinth, bc 585; Pittacus ofMitylene, bc 570; Thales of Miletus, bc 548...
How Herod Sent his Sons to Rome; How Also He was Accused by...
... time] sent to succeed Caesar in the government of the countries beyond the Ionian
Sea, upon whom Herod lighted when he was wintering aboutMitylene, for he had...
To Cyrus.
... To Cyrus. I had heard of the island of Lesbos, and its citiesMitylene, Methymna,
and the rest; but I was ignorant of the fruit of the vine cultivated in it....
What Philosophers were Famous when Tarquinius Priscus Reigned Over...
... the number of years. Pittacus ofMitylene, another of the sages, is reported
to have lived at that time. And Eusebius writes that...
Passing Years
... that his insane wrath had thus found expression he repented, and, like the Athenians
after their atrocious mandate to massacre the people ofMitylene, he sent...
Thesaurus
Mitylene (1 Occurrence)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
MITYLENE.
... The island, under the leadership
of
Mitylene, revolted in 428 BC from the Athenian confederacy.
...Mityle'ne (1 Occurrence)
Mityle'ne.Mitylene, Mityle'ne. Mitzraim .... Acts 20:14 and when he met with us
at Assos, having taken him up, we came toMitylene, (See RSV)....
Assos (2 Occurrences)
... An ancient city of Mysia in the Roman province of Asia, at which, according to Acts
20:13, Paul and Luke rested while on their way from Troas toMitylene....
Mitre (10 Occurrences)
Accordingly (34 Occurrences)
... leave the city. (WEY). Acts 20:14 Accordingly, when he met us at Assos, we
took him on board and came toMitylene. (WEY). Acts 25:22...
Aboard (10 Occurrences)
... to go by land. (WEB RSV NIV). Acts 20:14 When he met us at Assos, we took him
aboard, and came toMitylene. (WEB NIV). Acts 21:2 Having...
Met (118 Occurrences)
... midnight. (WEY). Acts 20:14 When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard, and
came toMitylene. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)....
Board (47 Occurrences)
... (Root in WEB WEY DBY NAS RSV NIV). Acts 20:14 When he met us at Assos, we took him
aboard, and came toMitylene. (Root in WEB WEY DBY NAS RSV NIV)....
Ship (122 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Acts 20:14 And when he came up with
us at Assos, we took him in the ship and went on toMitylene. (BBE)....
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