Amphipolis

11TH STOP OF PAUL'S SECOND JOURNEY

Macedonia Region of Northern Greece

"When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said. Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women." ACTS 17:1-3

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IN THE SHADOW OF ALEXANDER

Continuing their missionary journey after Philippi, Paul and his companions arrived in the strategically important city of Amphipolis. As a prominent Roman colony, Amphipolis occupied a critical position along the ancient Via Egnatia - the legendary road that connected the Adriatic Sea to the Bosporus, serving as a vital commercial and military artery.

Amphipolis held deep historical significance as a former stronghold of the Macedonian Empire. It was from this city that the legendary Alexander the Great prepared and launched many of his famous military campaigns, with several of his trusted generals hailing from the region. The towering Lion of Amphipolis monument, a grand sculptural tribute to Macedonia's martial prowess, overlooked the bustling streets - a testament to the city's illustrious past. Even in Paul's time, some two centuries after Alexander, Amphipolis remained an influential hub of trade and politics, with a diverse population that likely included both Greeks and Romans.

PLANTING THE SEEDS OF A DIFFERENT KINGDOM

As the apostle walked past the imposing Lion statue, he would have observed these physical reminders of the city's storied history. Yet Paul's mission was to proclaim a different kind of kingship - not earthly power, but the eternal reign of Christ. While the records do not detail his specific activities in Amphipolis, we can imagine Paul engaging the locals, debating in the city's marketplaces and synagogues, and seeking to plant the seeds of the Christian faith in this strategic location along the famed Via Egnatia.