Revelation 2:13

“I know thy works, etc.] Both good and bad, and which in that pure part of this church, which opposed the growing corruptions of antichrist, were for the most part good. And where thou dwellest, [even] where Satan's seat [is]. Pergamos was a city very much given to idolatry, here Satan reigned while it was Pagan, and so was a fit emblem of the idolatrous church of Rome. Pausanias says f73 , the country the Pergamenes inhabited was sacred to the Cabiri, the chief gods of the Heathens. And the same writer f74 observes, that Aesculapius particularly was worshipped at Pergamos; and hence he is called by Martial f75 the Pergamean god; to his temple here, men used to go from different parts of the…”

“I know thy works--Two oldest manuscripts omit this clause; one oldest manuscript retains it. Satan's seat--rather as the Greek is translated all through Revelation, "throne." Satan, in impious mimicry of God's heavenly throne, sets up his earthly throne (Rev 4:2). Æsculapius was worshipped there under the serpent form; and Satan, the old serpent, as the instigator (compare Rev 2:10) of fanatical devotees of Æsculapius, and, through them, of the supreme magistracy at Pergamos, persecuted one of the Lord's people (Antipas) even to death. Thus, this address is an anticipatory preface to Rev. 12:1-17; Note: "throne . . . the dragon, Satan . . . war with her seed," Rev 12:5, Rev 12:9, Rev…”

“I know thy works - The uniform mode of addressing the seven churches in these epistles. See the notes on Revelation 2:2. And where thou dwellest - That is, I know all the temptations to which you are exposed; all the allurements to sin by which you are surrounded; all the apologies which might be made for what has occurred arising from those circumstances; and all that could be said in commendation of you for having been as faithful as you have been. The sense of the passage is, that it does much to enable us to judge of character to know where people live. It is much more easy to be virtuous and pious in some circumstances than in others; and in order to determine how much credit is due to…”

“Where the throne of Satan is - Pergamos was above measure given to idolatry: so Satan had his throne and full residence there. Thou holdest fast my name - Openly and resolutely confessing me before men. Even in the days wherein Antipas - Martyred under Domitian. Was my faithful witness - Happy is he to whom Jesus, the faithful and true witness, giveth such a testimony! Revelation 2:14”

“2:13 The throne of Satan might refer to the altar of Zeus on the mountain above the city or to emperor worship at the temple of Augustus. For many years, the Roman proconsul had his throne there, and the great temple of Athena and other shrines were also located in Pergamum. Its description as Satan’s city might also refer to the temple of Asclepius, whose symbol was coiled snakes. The city was dedicated to the Roman pantheon and emperor worship. • Antipas is otherwise unknown.”

“know: Rev 2:2, Rev 2:9 Satan's: Rev 2:9, Rev 2:10, Rev 2:24, Rev 3:9 thou holdest: Rev 2:25, Rev 3:3, Rev 3:11; Th1 5:21; Ti2 1:13; Heb 3:6, Heb 10:23 my name: Rev 3:8; Mat 24:9; Luk 21:17; Act 9:14; Jam 2:7 denied: Mat 10:23; Ti1 5:8; Ti2 2:12; Jde 1:3, Jde 1:4 was: Act 22:20 Revelation 2:14”