{In Smyrna} (en Smurn(8869)). North of Ephesus, on a gulf of
the Aegean, one of the great cities of Asia (province), a seat of
emperor-worship with temple to Tiberius, with many Jews hostile
to Christianity who later join in the martyrdom of Polycarp, poor
church (rich in grace) which receives only praise from Christ,
scene of the recent massacre of Greeks by the Turks. Ramsay (_op.
cit._, p. 251) terms Smyrna "the City of Life." Christianity has
held on here better than in any city of Asia. {The first and the
last} (ho pr(9374)os kai ho eschatos). Repeating the language of
 1:17 . {Which was dead} (hos egeneto nekros). Rather, "who
became dead" (second aorist middle indicative of ginomai) as in
 1:18 . {And lived again} (kai ez(8873)en). First aorist
(ingressive, came to life) active of za(935c) (ho z(936e) in  1:18 ).
Emphasis on the resurrection of Christ.