Thoughts on Discipleship by Dr. W. A. Dillard - HTML preview

THE REMAINS OF ANTIQUITY TESTIFY

(Philippi)

“And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.”

ACTS 16:10.

The ship left the port of Athens at night. Calm seas allowed land lovers to have a peaceful sleep. Next morning, a cold front brought rain showers and rougher seas, allowing some to experience sea sickness, but calmness soon re-appeared, and following a delicious breakfast, the ship docked in Kavala, a thriving city biblically noted as Neopolis. With sack lunches in hand, a tour bus began the fairly short inland trip to the ancient city of Philippi. Along the mountain road one could view below the ancient Roman highway made of cobblestone, and wide enough for one automobile. Here Roman soldiers of old marched four abreast, and chariots were driven to this ancient Roman colony outpost.

The ruins of Philippi are situated at the base of a mountain into the side of which was constructed an amphitheater, attesting to the many civic gatherings and entertainment events its citizens enjoyed. The city ruins constitute approximately three blocks in width and three or four blocks long. Surely, one would find some evidence of the apostle Paul’s visit to this place. They were there.

There was a large open area around which were the remnants of shops and municipal buildings. This would be the place where the demon-possessed woman harassed the apostle until he drove it from her. Also, there was on the western outskirts of the town a small, swift stream still flowing freely. It was deep in places, and in some areas narrow enough that an athletic person could jump across it. This is the stream where some of the ancients gathered to pray, and Paul preached here and won and baptized Lydia, a seller of purple from Thyatira. Ruins of the prison at Philippi still stand. The cubical cells of thick rock construction gave vision of Paul and Silas singing and praising God in the dead of night with wounds on their backs still smarting severely from the lashes of the whip laid on them. They had deprived men of the city their fundraising opportunities by the demon possessed woman who no longer could serve them as before. It was here that God sent an earthquake, loosed the prisoner’s bands, and brought the jailor to his knees, and Christ Jesus into his heart.

At one end of the excavation ruins of a church house remains, dating back to the third century. A wall, marble flooring, and a deep water baptistry constructed in the form of a cross all testified to the influence of Paul, Silas, the jailor and his house, and so many others that led to its construction and use. The marvelous book of Philippians, the book of emphasized joy, testifies of the worship that ensued for decades or more.

FOR THOUGHT: Paul and Silas were denied the opportunity to preach in Bithynia, and Philippi was their first evangelistic campaign in Macedonia. Do you see the ways that God used them in that city? Can you name two or three significant accomplishments?