Parthians
Summary
Parthians were a people from the territory southeast of the Caspian Sea who established an empire rivaling Rome, mentioned in Acts 2:9 as present at Pentecost, representing the large Jewish population dwelling within the Parthian realm.
☩Identity and Territory
Parthians are mentioned in Acts 2:9 among the sojourners in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost, probably Jews who had become naturalized in Parthia, with possibly a few Parthian proselytes. Parthia proper was a small territory southeast of the Caspian Sea, about 300 miles long by 120 wide, a fertile though mountainous region bordering on the desert tract of Eastern Persia. The origin of the Parthians is somewhat uncertain, though the prevailing opinion holds they were of Scythic stock or the great Turanian race, described by ancient writers as 'Scythians.'
☩Rise of the Parthian Empire
The Parthians were among the tribes subdued by Cyrus and remained faithful to the Persians, later submitting to Alexander without resistance. After coming under Seleucid rule, they revolted around 250 BC under Arsaces I, who established the Arsacid dynasty that continued for nearly five centuries. His brother Tridates consolidated the kingdom, and Mithridates I (174-137 BC) greatly expanded Parthian territory by adding Bactria, Media, Persia, and Babylonia. By the time of Christ, the Parthian empire stretched from the Euphrates to the confines of India and the Oxus—a dominion almost rivaling Rome.
☩Conflict with Rome
The power of Rome came into contact with Parthia in 66 BC when Pompey subdued Mithridates of Pontus. The clash came in 53 BC when Crassus, seeking to rival Caesar's military fame, advanced across the Euphrates and suffered complete defeat and death—the Roman eagles were lost. This revealed Parthia as Rome's formidable rival for nearly three centuries. In 40 BC, Parthians invaded Syria and Palestine, setting Antigonus on Judea's throne and deposing Hyrcanus. They held the region for three years until driven out by Ventidius. Antony's later attempt to subdue them proved abortive, and Parthia remained the only power that had tried its strength against Rome and not been worsted.
☩Military Character
The Parthian soldiers were skilled horsemen and archers who could move quickly on military campaigns and shoot arrows with great precision while riding at full speed. They were expert in harassing even the highly disciplined armies of Rome, particularly by feigning retreat and then suddenly turning to deliver devastating attacks. This made their pursuit by conventional armies extremely dangerous. The Parthians were not a literary people and fell below the Persians, and much below the Greeks, in both civilization and art.
☩Jewish Connection
The Parthians had an important connection with Jewish history due to the large Jewish colonies in Mesopotamia and their interference in Judean affairs. During the reign of Artabanus III (16-42 AD), a terrible massacre of Jewish colonists occurred in Mesopotamia, as recorded by Josephus. The presence of Parthians among those hearing Peter's sermon at Pentecost reflects the significant Jewish diaspora that had settled throughout the Parthian realm, maintaining their religious identity while living under foreign rule. The Parthian dominion lasted until around AD 226, when the last Arsacid yielded the kingdom to the Persians revolting under Artaxerxes.
Related Verses1 mention
Acts· 1 verse
References
- 1.James Hastings (ed.), "Parthians," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Parthians," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. IV (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Parthians," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 4.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Parthians," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).