in all parts of Asia Minor, and the apostles often encountered them in their journeyings, but it would seem that there was something which had particularly embittered those of Smyrna against Christianity. What this was is now unknown. It may throw some light on the passage, however, to remark that at a somewhat later period――in the time of the martyrdom of Polycarp――the Jews of Smyrna were among the most bitter of the enemies of Christians, and among the most violent in demanding the death of Polycarp. Eusebius (_Eccl. Hist._ iv. 15) says, that when Polycarp was apprehended, and brought before the proconsul at Smyrna, the Jews were the most furious of all in demanding his condemnation. When the mob, after his condemnation to death, set about gathering fuel to burn him, “the Jews,” says he, “being especially zealous, as was their custom――μάλιστα προθύμως, ὡς ἔθος αὐτοῖς――ran to procure fuel.” And when, as the burning failed, the martyr was transfixed with weapons, the Jews urged and besought the magistrate that his body might not be given up to Christians. Possibly at the time when this epistle was directed to be sent to Smyrna, there were Jews there who manifested the same spirit which those of their countrymen did afterwards, who urged on the death of Polycarp. ¶ _But are the synagogue of Satan._ Deserve rather to be called the synagogue of Satan. The _synagogue_ was a Jewish place of worship (comp. Notes on Mat. iv. 23), but the word originally denoted the _assembly_ or _congregation_. The meaning here is plain, that though they worshipped in a synagogue, and professed to be the worshippers of God, yet they were not worthy of the name, and deserved rather to be regarded as in the service of Satan. _Satan_ is the word that is properly applied to the great evil spirit, elsewhere called the devil. See Notes on Lu. xxii. 3, and Job i. 10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast _some_ of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou [108]faithful unto death, and I will give thee a [109]crown of life.