Page:Light and truth.djvu/108

106 under Peter's sermon. (Acts ii.) The region is now under the Turkish power, and has become almost a desert. It is now called Cairoan. Some of the Cyrenians were among the earliest Christians, (Acts xi. 20.) and one of them, it is supposed, was a preacher at Antioch. (Acts xiii. 1.) We find also, that among the most violent opposers of Christianity, were the Cyrenians, who had a synagogue at Jerusalem, as had those of many other nations. It is said there were 480 synagogues in Jerusalem.

, or Libya, (Acts ii. 10.) was anciently among the Greeks a general name for Africa, but properly it embraced only so much of Africa as lay west of Egypt, on the southern coast of the Mediterranean. Profane geographers call it Libya Cyrenaica, because Cyrene was its capital. It was the country of the Lubims, (2 Chron. xii. 3,) or Lehabims of the Old Testament, from which it is supposed to have derived its name.

The ancient city of Cyrene is now called Cyreune, Cairoan, or Cayran, and lies in the dominion of Tripoli. This district of the earth has lately occasioned much interest among Italian and French geographers. Great numbers of Jews resided here. (Matt, xxvii. 32.)

, a part of Africa, bordering on Egypt, famous for its armed chariots and horses.—(2 Chron. xvi. 8.)

, the son of Joktan, gave name to a country in Africa, famous for gold, which was renowned even in the time of Job, (Job eh. xxii. 24; xxviii. 16,) and from the time of David to the time of Jehoshaphat, the Hebrews traded with it, and Uzziab revived this trade when he made himself master of Elath, a noted port on the Red Sea. In Solomon's time, the Hebrew fleet took up three years in their voyage to Ophir, and brought home gold, apes, peacocks, spices, ivory, ebony, and almug-trees.—(1 Kings ix. 28; x. 11; xxii. 48; 2 Chr. ix. 10.)

, (Isa. xxiii. 1,) or Tharshish. (1 Kings x. 22.) It is, supposed that some place of this name existed on the eastern coast of Africa, or among the southern ports of Asia, with which the ships of Hiram and Solomon traded in gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. (2 Chron. ix. 21.) It is said that once in every