Philippi History Lesson There will be a test at the end.....

Where?

In modern Greece Near the head of the Aegean Sea at the foot of Mt. Orbelos (the modern Mt. Lekani), about 8 miles north-west of Kavalla.

When? Philippi was founded in 356 BC - that's about 400 years before Paul got there.

Who? Philippi was founded by the king of Macedon, Philip II, on the site of the Thasian colony of Crenides.

Roman Philippi During the Roman civil war that followed the assassination of Julius Caesar his heirs Mark Antony and Octavian confronted the assassins of Caesar, Marcus Junius Brutus and Cassius, at the Battle of Philippi in the plain to the west of the city in October, 42 BC. Antony and Octavian were victorious in this battle and renamed the city Colonia Victrix Philippensium. In 30 BC, Octavian became Roman emperor. The city was renamed Colonia Iulia Philippensis, and then Colonia Augusta Iulia Philippensis after January 27 BC, when Octavian received the title Augustus from the Roman Senate. Hope you are taking notes.

Paul in Philippi In 49 or 50 AD, the city was visited by the apostle Paul during his second missionary journey. According to the book of Acts, he was guided there by a vision of "a man of Macedonia" (Acts 16:9). Paul preached in Philippi accompanied by Silas, Timothy, and Luke. In an account recorded in Acts, Paul drove out an evil spirit from a slave girl who worked as a fortune teller. Her owners became angry and dragged Paul and Silas into the marketplace and complained about them before the magistrates. A crowd joined in the condemnation, and the missionaries were stripped and flogged, then thrown into prison. At midnight, however, a great earthquake came and the prison doors flew open. The jailer nearly killed himself over it, but Paul talked him out of it and converted him. The next morning, the magistrates released Paul and Silas and asked them to leave the city. (Acts 16:16-40)

Forum at Philippi (where Paul was dragged by the fortune tellers owners)

The court (foreground) where Paul was charged (market place is in the background)

Traditional site of Paul’s jail in Philippi

Paul visited the city on two other occasions, in 56 and 57 AD. The letter to the Philippians dates from around AD. The subsequent development of Christianity in Philippi is well- attested in secular sources, notably by a letter from Polycarp of Smyrna addressed to the community in Philippi around 160, and by funerary inscriptions.

TEST – (Multiple guess test) Q1. Where is Philippi? – A Modern day Italy – B Modern day Turkey – C Modern day Greece

Answer - C

Test Q2 – What sea is Philippi near? A Aegean B Mediterranean C Red Sea

Answer - A

Test Q3 – when was Philippi founded? – A 453 BC – B 356 BC – C 254 AD

Answer - B

Test Q4 – When did Paul first preach at Philippi? – A 45BC – B 50AD – C 60AD

Answer - B

Test Q5 Why was Paul put in Jail in Philippi? – A For healing on a Sabbath – B For wearing socks with his sandals – C For driving out a fortune teller’s demon

Answer - B