mitylene Summary and Overview

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.

(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. #Ac 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, called Mitelin. It contains about 1100 houses, Greek and Turkish, with narrow and filthy streets. --ED.)

MITYLE'NE (hornless), the chief town and capital of the isle of Lesbos. Situated on the east coast, Mitylene is the intermediate place where Paul stopped for the night between Assos and Chios. Acts 20:14-15. The town itself was celebrated in Koman times for the beauty of its buildings. In Paul's days it had the privileges of a free city. The island has been subject to Turkey, but the people are chiefly Greek.

Capital, on S.E. side, of the island Lesbos, now Mitylen. Beautiful in situation ("pulchra", Horace Ep. 1:11, 17, with mountains in the background) and in buildings, and enjoying the Roman citizenship. Paul stopped at it for the night in his return from his third missionary journey; between Assos and Chios. The wind blew probably from N.W., from which the harbor of Mitylene would shelter the ship. He was there on a dark moonless night; a good reason for passing the night there, and waiting daylight for the intricate passages southward to Chios and Samos (Acts 20:14-15). The native land of the poets Sappho and Alcaeus, and Arion the musician.