Overview:
Acra is a term associated with a fortified structure or citadel in ancient Jerusalem, significant during the Hellenistic period. It played a crucial role in the history of the Jewish people, particularly during the Maccabean Revolt. The Acra is often mentioned in historical texts and has been the subject of archaeological interest.

Historical Context:
The Acra was constructed by the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes around 168 BC, following his conquest of Jerusalem. This fortress was strategically built to control the city and suppress Jewish resistance. It housed a garrison of soldiers and served as a base for enforcing Hellenistic culture and practices, which were in direct opposition to Jewish religious traditions.

Biblical References:
While the term "Acra" itself does not appear in the canonical books of the Bible, its historical and cultural impact is evident in the context of the Maccabean Revolt, which is detailed in the deuterocanonical books of 1 and 2 Maccabees. These texts, though not part of the Protestant canon, provide valuable historical insights into the period.

1 Maccabees 1:33 states: "Then they fortified the city of David with a great strong wall and strong towers, and it became their citadel." This passage is understood to refer to the construction of the Acra, highlighting its role as a symbol of foreign oppression.

Significance in Jewish History:
The Acra was a focal point of conflict during the Maccabean Revolt, a Jewish uprising against Seleucid rule and Hellenistic influence. The revolt was led by Judas Maccabeus and his brothers, who sought to reclaim Jewish religious freedom and purify the temple. The presence of the Acra in Jerusalem was a constant reminder of foreign domination and religious persecution.

The successful recapture of Jerusalem by the Maccabees and the eventual destruction of the Acra were pivotal in restoring Jewish autonomy and religious practices. This victory is celebrated during the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, which commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple.

Archaeological Insights:
The exact location of the Acra has been a subject of debate among scholars and archaeologists. Various excavations in Jerusalem have sought to uncover its remains, with some suggesting it was located in the southeastern part of the city, near the Temple Mount. Discoveries of fortification walls, Hellenistic pottery, and other artifacts have provided clues to its existence and significance.

Cultural and Religious Impact:
The account of the Acra and the Maccabean Revolt underscores the enduring struggle for religious freedom and cultural identity. It serves as a testament to the resilience of the Jewish people in the face of external pressures to conform to foreign ideologies. The events surrounding the Acra have been influential in shaping Jewish history and are remembered as a symbol of resistance and faithfulness to God's covenant.

Conclusion:
The Acra remains an important historical and cultural symbol, representing a period of intense conflict and eventual triumph for the Jewish people. Its legacy continues to be studied and remembered as part of the broader narrative of Jerusalem's history and the enduring quest for religious and cultural integrity.ACRA

ak'-ra, a'-kra (1 Maccabees 1:33 the Revised Version (British and American), "citadel"). See JERUSALEM.

Some Buildings in Acra. Bezeiha. Millo.
... A Chorographical Century. Chapters 21-30 Chapter 24 Some buildings in
Acra. Bezeiha. Millo. Mount Sion did not thrust itself so ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 24 some buildings in.htm

The Parts of the City. Sion. The Upper City: which was on the ...
... "But the other, which was called Acra, bearing on it the lower town, was steep
on both sides.". "Against this was a third hill [Moriah ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 22 the parts of.htm

Gihon, the Same with the Fountain of Siloam.
... Josephus, speaking of that deep valley which runs between Sion and Acra, saith,
"it is extended to Siloam; for so we call the sweet and large fountain." But ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 25 gihon the same.htm

The Description of Jerusalem.
... of that Solomon who built this temple at the first; but it is by us called the
"Upper Market-place." But the other hill, which was called "Acra," and sustains ...
/.../chapter 4 the description of.htm

In Jerusalem when Herod Reigned
... Right below us is the cleft of the Tyropoeon, and here creeps up northwards the
Lower City' or Acra, in the form of a crescent, widening into an almost square ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter i in jerusalem when.htm

How the Romans Carried their Ensigns to the Temple, and Made ...
... both to burn and to plunder the city; who did nothing indeed that day; but on the
next day they set fire to the repository of the archives, to Acra, to the ...
/.../chapter 6 how the romans.htm

From the Talmud and Hebraica
... Sion. The Upper City: which was on the north part. Chapter 23 The buildings of more
eminent note in Sion. Chapter 24 Some buildings in Acra. Bezeiha. Millo. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/

Mount Moriah
... Mount Moriah was so seated, that "the city, in the manner of a theatre, lay about
the Temple": on this side Sion, then Acra, and a little on the back of Bezetha ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 27 mount moriah.htm

The Court of the Gentiles. The Mountain of the House, in the ...
... On the south were two gates, both called the Gate of Huldah: of the reason of the
name we are not solicitous. These looked towards Jerusalem, or Acra. ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 28 the court of.htm

The Buildings of More Eminent Note in Sion.
... When the Romans had fired Acra, and levelled it with the ground, "the seditious
rushing into the court, into which, by reason of the strength of the place ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 23 the buildings of.htm

Acra
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia ACRA. ak'-ra, a'-kra (1 Maccabees 1:33 the Revised
Version (British and American), "citadel"). See JERUSALEM. ...
/a/acra.htm - 6k

Fasts (3 Occurrences)
... 17th Tammuz 5. Fast of the Fifth Month, 9th 'Abh 6. Fast of the Seventh Month, 3rd
Tishri 7. Fast of the Tenth Month, 10th Tebheth 8. Feast of Acra, 23d Iyar 9 ...
/f/fasts.htm - 21k

Feasts (45 Occurrences)
... 17th Tammuz 5. Fast of the Fifth Month, 9th 'Abh 6. Fast of the Seventh Month, 3rd
Tishri 7. Fast of the Tenth Month, 10th Tebheth 8. Feast of Acra, 23d Iyar 9 ...
/f/feasts.htm - 36k

Ophel (6 Occurrences)
... for a great way, as also `Ophla,' and the Valley called the `Valley of the Cedron.' "
It is noticeable that this is not identical with the "Acra" and "Lower ...
/o/ophel.htm - 14k

College (2 Occurrences)
... It properly means the "second," and may therefore denote the lower city (Acra),
which was built after the portion of the city on Mount Zion, and was enclosed ...
/c/college.htm - 9k

Acquitting (3 Occurrences)

/a/acquitting.htm - 7k

Accho (1 Occurrence)
... Here Paul landed on his last journey to Jerusalem (Acts 21:7). During the crusades
of the Middle Ages it was called Acra; and subsequently, on account of its ...
/a/accho.htm - 7k

Acrabattene
Acrabattene. Acra, Acrabattene. Acrabbim . Int. ... ak-ra-ba-te'-ne. See AKRABATTINE
(in the Apocrypha). Acra, Acrabattene. Acrabbim . Reference Bible.
/a/acrabattene.htm - 6k

Solomon (277 Occurrences)
... constructed great works for the purpose of securing a plentiful supply of water
for the city (Ecclesiastes 2:4-6). He then built Millo (LXX., "Acra") for the ...
/s/solomon.htm - 101k

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