Smith's Bible Dictionary

(Frankie) #1

(the Ptolemais of the Maccabees and New Testament), Now called Acca, or more usually by
Europeans St. Jean d’Acre, the most important seaport town on the Syrian coast, about 30 miles
south of Tyre. It was situated on a slightly projecting headland, at the northern extremity of that
spacious bay which is formed by the bold promontory of Carmel on the opposite side. Later it was
named Ptolemais, after one of the Ptolemies, probably Soter. The only notice of it in the New
Testament is in (Acts 21:7) where it is called Ptolemais.
Aceldama
(the field of blood) (Akeldama in the Revised Version), the name given by the Jews of Jerusalem
to a field near Jerusalem purchased by Judas with the money which he received for the betrayal of
Christ, and so called from his violent death therein. (Acts 1:19) The “field of blood” is now shown
on the steep southern face of the valley or ravine of Hinnom, “southwest of the supposed pool of
Siloam.”
Achaia
(trouble) signifies in the New Testament a Roman province which included the whole of the
Peloponnesus and the greater part of Hellas proper, with the adjacent islands. This province, with
that of Macedonia, comprehended the while of Greece; hence Achaia and Macedonia are frequently
mentioned together in the New Testament to indicate all Greece. (Acts 18:12; 19:21; Romans 15:26;
16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:15; 2 Corinthians 7:5; 9:2; 11:10; 1 Thessalonians 1:7,8) In the time of the
emperor Claudius it was governed by a proconsul, translated in the Authorized Version “deputy,”
of Achaia. (Acts 18:12)
Achaicus
(belonging to Achaia), a name of a Christian. (1 Corinthians 16:17)
Achan
(troubler), an Israelite of the tribe of Judah, who, when Jericho and all that it contained were
accursed and devoted to destruction, secreted a portion of the spoil in his tent. For this sin he was
stoned to death with his whole family by the people, in a valley situated between Ai and Jericho,
and their remains, together with his property, were burnt. (Joshua 7:19-26) From this event the
valley received the name of Achor (i.e. trouble). [Achor, Valley Of] (B.C. 1450.)
Achar = Achan
(1 Chronicles 2:7)
Achaz = Ahaz
king of Judah, (Matthew 1:9)
Achbor
(mouse).
•Father of Baalhanan king of Edom. (Genesis 36:38,39; 1 Chronicles 1:49)
•Son of Michaiah, a contemporary of Josiah, (2 Kings 22:12,14; Jeremiah 26:22; 36:12) called
Abdon in (2 Chronicles 34:20) (B.C. 623.)
Achim
son of Sadoc and father of Eliud in our Lord’s genealogy. (Matthew 1:14) The Hebrew form
of the name would be Jachin, which is a short form of Jehoiachin, the Lord will establish.
Achish
(angry), a Philistine king of Gath, who in the title of the 34th Psalm is called Abimelech. David
twice found a refuge with him when he fled from Saul. (B.C. 1061.) On the first occasion he was
alarmed for his safety, feigned madness, and was sent away.

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