Paul and Silas in Philippi

11 And having set sail from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and on the next day to Neapolis 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a prominent city of the District of Macedonia, a colony, and we stayed in this city some days. Acts 16:11-12  (translated from the NA28 Greek text)

As you know, Paul’s friend and companion Luke wrote the book of Acts in the New Testament. In Acts 16:10, we read that after Paul and seen the vision to leave Asia and come to Europe after seeking the will of God for next focus of his missionary journey, Luke includes himself in the narrative as an eyewitness, therefore, his account of what happened to Paul and Silas in Philippi are given as one who was there.

In the passage above, Troas was a major Aegean port 14 miles south of ancient Troy and the primary Asian harbor for ships bound for Macedonia. Samothrace was an island on the direct route between Troas and Neapolis, the port for Philippi, which lay 8.5 miles inland. Philippi was a Roman colony, which means that is held the most privileged status for provincial cities. View article →