Greece Day 2 - Phillipi, Neapolis, and Thessaloniki

We had a long day today and we had to pack tonight, so the update will be short. If I have more time I will write some more on the bus tomorrow.

We started the day at the river outside Phillipi. This was were Paul first met with the Jews of Phillipi, the first time the Gospel was shared in Europe and where he met Lydia as recorded in Acts 16.

Our next stop was inside Phillipi. This is the Agora or forum of Phillipi, at least part of it. On the right is the office of the general for the city. This is where Paul would have been brought and accused of causing trouble after he cast the demon out of the girl in Acts 16. He was beaten here publicly and then put in jail overnight. The location of the jail is yet unknown, but probably wasn't far from here.

We had a brief discussion of some of the themes of Phillipians in the Theater of Phillipi.

Then it was on to Neapolis for lunch. We didn't get to do much site seeing in Neapolis, but we talked some about how this was the first place Paul stepped on to Europe.

 

Back to downtown Thessaloniki. This is the Great Gate in the ancient wall surrounding Thessaloniki. It is traditionally called the Great Gate, probably because this is where the Via Egnatia enters the city. Paul walked for 5 days to get from Phillipi to Thessaloniki on the Via Egnatia and would have probably entered through this gate.

This is a portion of the agora in Thessaloniki. This is roughly were the government offices would have been and where they brought Jason in Acts 17.

We ended our tour at a basilica dedicated to Saint Dimetrius.

 

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