Alexandrian
Alexandrian is an ancient city mentioned in the New Testament, located in the region of Egypt in modern-day Egypt. Known today as Alexandria. It appears across 4 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Alexandria, the great Egyptian metropolis founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, enters the New Testament narrative primarily through its Jewish diaspora community and their involvement in the early church. Acts 6:9 records that Alexandrian Jews worshiped in their own synagogue in Jerusalem and that members of this community disputed with Stephen, the first Christian martyr. The most prominent Alexandrian in the New Testament is Apollos, described in Acts 18:24 as 'an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures,' who had been instructed in the way of John but was further discipled by Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus. Paul's sea journeys in Acts 27:6 and 28:11 involved Alexandrian grain ships, massive commercial vessels that dominated Mediterranean trade. Alexandria's significance for early Christianity extended well beyond the canonical period — the city became home to the catechetical school that shaped figures such as Clement and Origen, making it a major center of Christian theological reflection.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Modern Alexandria, Egypt's second-largest city, sits directly atop its ancient predecessor, making systematic excavation exceptionally difficult. Underwater archaeology in the harbor has recovered remarkable remains, including portions of the ancient royal quarter, a lighthouse foundation, and large granite statues, all submerged by earthquakes and subsidence. Land excavations have uncovered sections of ancient streets, cisterns, catacombs at Kom el-Shoqafa, and the remains of the Serapeum complex. The location of the famous Library of Alexandria remains debated. The ancient city's grid plan, designed by Dinocrates of Rhodes, is partially preserved in the modern street layout. Alexandria continues to yield significant finds through salvage archaeology conducted ahead of modern construction.
Verse Appearances (4)
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →