Lexical Summary Milétos: Miletus Original Word: Μίλητος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Miletus. Of uncertain origin; Miletus, a city of Asia Minor -- Miletus. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain origin Definition Miletus, a city in S.W. Asia Minor NASB Translation Miletus (3). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3399: ΜίλητοςΜίλητος, Μιλήτου, ἡ, Miletus, a maritime city (now nearly ten miles from the coast (cf. Acts 20:38)) of Caria or Ionia, near the mouths of the Maeander and not far (about 35 miles south) from Ephesus. It was the mother of many (some eighty) colonies, and the birthplace of Thales, Anaximander, and other celebrated men: Acts 20:15, 17; 2 Timothy 4:20. (Lewin, St. Paul, ii., 90f.) Topical Lexicon Geographic Setting Miletus lay on the western coast of Asia Minor, just south of the mouth of the Maeander River and about thirty miles from Ephesus. In the first century it possessed four harbors that enabled large vessels to anchor, making it a strategic maritime stop between the Aegean and the eastern Mediterranean. Although the silting of the river would later ruin its ports, in New Testament times it remained an active commercial center on the main north–south coastal route. Historical Background Founded by early Ionian Greeks, Miletus became famous for its philosophers (Thales, Anaximander, Anaximenes) and for colonizing ventures that spread Hellenic culture around the Black Sea. After successive Persian, Hellenistic, and Roman administrations, the city prospered under Roman rule as part of the province of Asia. Its cosmopolitan character made it a natural staging point for missionary travel, with well-paved roads linking it to Ephesus and the interior. Miletus in Apostolic Ministry • Acts 20:15–17 – Paul’s ship, moving southward on the return leg of his third missionary journey, “put in at Miletus” (verse 15). Wanting to reach Jerusalem by Pentecost, he bypassed Ephesus and summoned that church’s elders to meet him on the coast: “From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church” (verse 17). The ensuing farewell address (Acts 20:18-35) is one of the most personal and pastoral sections in Acts, revealing the heart of an apostle who had “served the Lord with great humility” and now urged vigilance against future wolves. The choice of Miletus allowed a private setting away from the turbulent environment of Ephesus while still within easy reach for the elders. • 2 Timothy 4:20 – Writing from his second Roman imprisonment, Paul notes, “Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus”. This brief remark shows that the city continued to function as a waypoint in later travels. It also reminds readers that even apostolic companions were subject to illness and that miraculous healings were never wielded mechanically. Paul’s honesty about Trophimus underscores the already-but-not-yet tension of the kingdom, encouraging believers to exercise compassion and prayer without presumption. Strategic Importance for the Gospel 1. Accessibility: With both harbor and highway access, Miletus offered ready movement of people and ideas. The ease with which Paul could summon leaders from a major church underscores Asia Minor’s interconnected road network. Theological Reflections • Providence in Itinerant Ministry – Paul’s changed itinerary, dictated by the Spirit and by travel realities, illustrates that divine guidance often works through ordinary logistics. Lessons for the Contemporary Church • Value of Intentional Gatherings – Deliberate, face-to-face exhortation fortifies leaders to protect flocks from error. Extra-Biblical Attestation Archaeological remains confirm a grand agora, temples, and a sizable theater dating to the Roman imperial period when Paul visited. Inscriptions reference guilds and imperial cult activity, reflecting the cultural pressures early believers navigated. Later church councils (for example, the Synod of Miletus in the fourth century) indicate that a Christian presence endured well beyond the apostolic age. Summary Miletus served as a crucial link in Paul’s missionary network, providing both a quiet locale for apostolic instruction and a practical harbor for ongoing travel. Its biblical appearances, though brief, illuminate pastoral care, missionary strategy, and the lived reality of the church’s early expansion. Forms and Transliterations Μιλητον Μίλητον Μιλητου Μιλήτου Μιλητω Μιλήτῳ Mileto Milētō Milḗtoi Milḗtōi Mileton Milēton Míleton Mílēton Miletou Milētou MilḗtouLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Acts 20:15 N-AFSGRK: ἤλθομεν εἰς Μίλητον NAS: we came to Miletus. KJV: [day] we came to Miletus. INT: we came to Miletus Acts 20:17 N-GFS 2 Timothy 4:20 N-DFS Strong's Greek 3399 |
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