A.T. Robertson Commentary Revelation 17:2

"with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and they that dwell in the earth were made drunken with the wine of her fornication." — Revelation 17:2 (ASV)

The kings of the earth (ο βασιλεις της γης). Repeated in 1:5; 6:15; 17:18; 18:3,9; 19:19; 21:24 and "the kings of the inhabited earth" (16:14) either for human rulers in general or the vassal kings absorbed by the Roman Empire.

Committed fornication (επορνευσαν). First aorist active indicative of πορνευω. "In purchasing the favour of Rome by accepting her suzerainty and with it her vices and idolatries" (Swete).

Were made drunken (εμεθυσθησαν). First aorist passive indicative of μεθυσκω, old verb (from μεθυ), as in Lu 12:45, here only in the Apocalypse. Cf. Isaiah 51:7 and πεποτικεν in Re 14:8. See 18:3.