Parthia and the Parthians
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
—the inhabitants of Parthia (Acts 2:9), which originally lay in the eastern part of Media, between the Persian Gulf and the Tigris River. The Parthians belonged to the Iranian peoples, not to the Scythians as some have supposed. They were a warlike nation, skillful horsemen, and excellent archers. In the opinion of some, the Magi who came with gifts to worship the newborn divine Child were from Parthia. At the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, the Parthians are named first among the peoples then present in Jerusalem, followed by Medes, Elamites, and others.