Accho

Narrator: Chris Genthree
 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 10
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A seaport in the Mediterranean, about 30 miles south of Tyre. It was assigned to Asher, but it was one of the places they failed to possess. It is mentioned in the O.T. only in Judges 1:3131Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob: (Judges 1:31). After the dismemberment of the Macedonian empire, Accho could not fail to excite attention in the numerous contests that took place during the Era of the Ptolemies: by one of whom it was gained and was called PTOLEMAIS. By this latter name it is frequently referred to in the books of Maccabees and by Josephus. In Acts 21:77And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day. (Acts 21:7) also we read that Paul sailed to Ptolemais. It was made a Roman colony by the emperor Claudius and named Colonia Claudii Caesaris. It was besieged and taken by the Crusaders, who called it ACRE and ST. JEAN D’ACRE on account of the knights of St. John of Jerusalem. In 1799 it was held by the English against Napoleon, who was defeated. Notwithstanding all these changes it retains its ancient name, and is still called Akka or Accho. An ancient coin gives the name in Greek letters AKE. It lies in the north of the bay of Acre, 32° 55' N, 35° 4' E, but there is not sufficient depth of water for ships: they however find shelter on the opposite side of the bay near Haifa under Mount Carmel. The area on which Accho stands is small, and is little more than a fortress in the sea. Massive fortifications guard the city toward the east, and on the land side there is a double rampart. The population has been given at about 5,000, of which 2,250 males are Muslims and Druzes, and about 800 Christians and Jews. The chief exports are grain and cotton. A railway is now (1894) in course of construction from Akka to Haifa, and thence to Damascus, which will no doubt much increase the trade of the place.