Acco
Acco is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Galilee in modern-day Israel. Known today as Tel Akko. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Acco, also known as Ptolemais in the Hellenistic and Roman periods and as Akko today, appears in the Old Testament in Judges 1:31, where it is listed among the Canaanite cities from which the tribe of Asher failed to drive out the inhabitants: 'Asher did not drive out the inhabitants of Acco, or the inhabitants of Sidon...' Instead, the Asherites lived among the Canaanites, a pattern of accommodation that the book of Judges repeatedly presents as a source of spiritual compromise and idolatry for Israel. As a major port city on the northern coastal plain of Canaan, Acco commanded the natural harbor north of the Carmel headland, making it one of the most commercially and strategically significant locations on the Levantine coast. By the New Testament era, known as Ptolemais (named by Ptolemy II Philadelphus), the city appears in Acts 21:7, where Paul stops there for one day on his final journey to Jerusalem after his third missionary journey, greeting the brothers in the local church. This brief reference confirms the presence of an early Christian community at this ancient port, testifying to the gospel's advance along the Mediterranean coastline. Acco's long history spans the entire biblical period, from Canaanite stronghold to apostolic waypoint.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Acco is identified with modern Akko (Acre) in northern Israel, one of the best-preserved Crusader-era cities in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tel Akko, adjacent to the old city, has been extensively excavated, revealing occupation layers spanning the Early Bronze Age through the Ottoman period. Significant Bronze Age remains confirm Acco's importance in Canaanite trade networks; Egyptian records mention the city as a major grain export port. Iron Age material includes evidence of Phoenician cultural influence consistent with its biblical characterization as a city the Asherites never fully subdued. Hellenistic and Roman-period remains confirm the city's prosperity as Ptolemais, and underwater archaeological surveys of the harbor have revealed ancient anchors and harbor infrastructure.
Verse Appearances (1)
Judg
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →