Ptolemais

D4 on the Map

Acco, Acre. The original site is a mound called Tell-el-Fukhar, located one mile E of the present city. Ptolemais was a Hellenistic cosmopolitan city and port located in Galilee which was very important during the Hellenistic period. It was originally called Acco, and was a Canaanite city which was spared from captivity during the conquests of Joshua. The men of Asher settled among its inhabitants.  It was at one time the most important harbor serving Galilee and was also an important center for Egyptian rule. It was also a center for the metal-working industry. Acco was renamed to Ptolemais during the time of Ptolemaic rule over Palestine. It was known to the ancient Greeks and Romans as Ptolemais, from Ptolemy the king of Egypt, who rebuilt it in 100 B.C. when he was in possession of Coele-Syria. Paul was there for one day on his return from his third missionary journey, and it was already the home of a Christian church (Acts 21:7).

Acts 21:7 "And when we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, greeted the brethren, and stayed with them one day."

During the Middle Ages it was called Acra, and afterward called St. Jean d'Acre.

Also see: 1 Macc. 5:22; 11:22, 24; 12:45, 48