It may be remarked that the same thing is true now; that wherever there is _any_ vitality in a church, the Saviour will furnish ample opportunity that it maybe employed in his service. ¶ _And hast not denied my name._ When Christians were brought before heathen magistrates in times of persecution, they were required to renounce {94} the name of Christ, and to disown him in a public manner. It is possible that, amidst the persecutions that raged in the early times, the members of the church at Philadelphia had been summoned to such a trial, and they had stood the trial firmly. It would seem from the following verse, that the efforts which had been made to induce them to renounce the name of Christ had been made by those who professed to be Jews, though they evinced the spirit of Satan. If so, then the attempt was probably to convince them that Jesus was not the Christ. This attempt would be made in all places where there were Jews. 9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which [156]say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to [157]come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 9. _Behold, I will make._ Greek, “I give”――δίδωμι; that is, I will arrange matters so that this shall occur. The word implies that he had power to do this, and consequently proves that he has power over the heart of man, and can secure such a result as he chooses. ¶ _Them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews._ Who profess to be Jews, but are really of the synagogue of Satan. See Notes on ch. ii. 9. The meaning is, that, though they were of Jewish extraction, and boasted much of being Jews, yet they were really under the influence of Satan, and their assemblages deserved to be called his “synagogue.” ¶ _And are not, but do lie._ It is a false profession altogether. Comp. Notes on 1 Jn. i. 6. ¶ _Behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet._ The word rendered _worship_ here, means, properly, _to fall prostrate_; and then to do homage, or to worship in the proper sense, as this was commonly done by falling prostrate. See Notes on Mat. ii. 2. So far as the _word_ is concerned, it may refer either to spiritual homage, that is, the worship of God; or it may mean respect as shown to superiors. If it is used here in the sense of divine worship properly so called, it means that they would be constrained to come and worship “_before_ them,” or in their very presence; if it is used in the more general signification, it means that they would be constrained to show them honour and respect. The latter is the probable meaning; that is, that they would be constrained to acknowledge that they were the children of God, or that God regarded them with his favour. It does not mean necessarily that they would themselves be converted to Christ, but that, as they had been accustomed to revile and oppose those who were true Christians, they would be constrained