Neapolis

9TH STOP OF PAUL'S SECOND JOURNEY

Kavala, Macedonia Region of Greece

"From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district[a] of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days." ACTS 16:11-12

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"COME OVER TO MACEDONIA AND HELP US"

The year was 49 CE when a weather-beaten ship from Troas approached the harbor of Neapolis. Among its passengers was none other than Paul, whose vision from the Macedonian man saying "come over to Macedonia and help us," compelled him to make this journey. As the ship's bow cut through the harbor waters, the bustling port city rose before him, a testament to Rome's power and Greece's enduring influence. This was no ordinary arrival – it marked Christianity's first documented step onto European soil.

Neapolis stood as a living embodiment of the Roman Empire's might. The Via Egnatia, Rome's great highway connecting the Aegean to the Adriatic Sea, began at its port, stretching westward like an imperial lifeline. The city's skyline told its own story of conquest and culture: Roman administrative buildings rose alongside Greek temples, while merchants from across the empire haggled in a dozen languages. Here, East truly met West, creating a vibrant tapestry of humanity that would both challenge and aid Paul's mission.

A mosaic depicting Paul stepping foot into Macedonia for the first time, found outside the Agios Nikolaos church in the center of Kavala.

GATEWAY TO THE ROMAN EMPIRE

The cultural tensions in Neapolis were palpable. Roman officials moved through the streets with measured authority, their presence a constant reminder of imperial power. Greek philosophers gathered in market corners, their debates echoing ancient wisdom. Jewish merchants carefully navigated both worlds while maintaining their ancestral traditions. The imperial cult demanded allegiance to Caesar as divine, its temples and ceremonies woven into the fabric of daily life. Into this complex web of competing loyalties and beliefs, Paul brought a message that would shake the foundations of both Roman and Greek society.

From Neapolis, the road led inland to Philippi, where Paul's European ministry would begin in earnest. The journey that started at this port would reshape the religious landscape of the Western world. In each city that followed – Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, and beyond – Paul would challenge the very nature of community. Where Rome built empire through power and Greek culture through philosophy, Paul spoke of a different kind of unity: a divine family that transcended the barriers of ethnicity, social status, and gender. This radical vision of community would find fertile ground in Macedonia, where the first European churches would take root. The message that began at Neapolis's harbor was both simple and revolutionary: the God of the universe was creating a family, not an empire. This family would be bound not by Roman law or Greek wisdom, but by adoption through faith. As Paul took his first steps on European soil, he carried an invitation that would echo through centuries – an invitation to join a household where slave and free, Greek and barbarian, male and female could all find belonging.

The Aqueduct of Kavala, one of the landmarks of the city. Of Roman origin, the present structure was built by the Ottomans in the 16th century.

HOW TO VISIT NEAPOLIS TODAY?

Today, ancient Neapolis lives on as modern Kavala, a picturesque coastal city in northern Greece. Visitors can walk the same harbor where Paul first stepped onto European soil, though the ancient port now lies beneath the modern waterfront. The city's most striking landmark is the Byzantine-Ottoman aqueduct, locally known as the Kamares, which spans the old city with its imposing arches. While few structures from Paul's time remain visible, the ancient Roman Via Egnatia can still be traced through the city, and portions of the original Roman road are preserved. For those following in Paul's footsteps, Kavala serves as the starting point for exploring other significant sites along his Macedonian journey. The ancient ruins of Philippi lie just 15 kilometers inland, featuring well-preserved remains of the Roman forum, theater, and the traditional site of Lydia's baptism. The archaeological park at Philippi, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, offers visitors a tangible connection to the world Paul encountered as he brought his message of faith and family to European soil.