A major Greek city in Macedonia and renamed after Philip, the father of Alexander the Great. "Philippi was the first place in Europe where the gospel was preached by an apostle, as far as our certain knowledge goes. St Paul's visit to it was therefore more momentours than Julius Caesar's landing in Britain or Columbus' arrival in America" (W. Rees). The church in the city—one very close to Paul's heart—was founded by Paul during his Second Missionary Journey (Acts 16:12-40). The city, 15km inland from the Aegean coast, was served by the port-city of Neapolis.
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The ancient Greek city, known as Krenides (Greek for 'springs,' because of its plentiful supply of water) and famous for its gold and silver mines, stood near the border between Thrace and Macedonia. It was seized from the Tracians by King Philip II in 356 BC and renamed after him. It economy was bolstered especially when it came under Roman rule, sitting, as it did, along the main highway (the Via Egnatia) from Rome to Asia.
Philippi gain additional fame in 42 BC, when Mark Anthony and Octavian, avenging the murder of his uncle, Julius Caesar, caught up with Brutus and Cassius to do battle in the fertile plains just outside the city. In celebration of the victory Octavian made the city a Roman colonia, "a Roman colony" (Acts 16:12). The word "colony" in this case indicates a city with special privileges, especially in tax and military exemptions. It had its own constitution (but modeled after the Roman) and elected its own senate and officers.
All that is left of the city today are ruins but an important tourist destination and archaeological site.
To read the narrative of Paul in Philippi, click Open Text M
Read entry on Philippi in:
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (longer) M
Eaton's Illustrated Bible Dictionary (shorter) M
Resources:
Thomas Forsyth Torrance, "St Paul at Philippi," The Evangelical Quarterly 13.1 (Jan. 1941): 62-74.
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W. Rees, "St Paul's First Visit to Philippi," Acts of the Apostles, xvi.ii-40.
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Merrill F. Unger, "Archaeology and Paul's Campaign at Philippi," Bibliotheca Sacra 119 (April, 1962): 150-160.
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