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The content on this website is maintained by
Robert Myallis, pastor at Zion's Lutheran Church, of Jonestown, PA.
The photos were taken by
Emily Myallis, a diaconal minister in the ELCA who also serves at Zion's Lutheran.
This website and travel to
Greece was made possible by a grant from the
Fund for Theological Education,
which provides grants to assist the education and formation of
Christian leaders from numerous denominations.
Bible quotes are taken from the New
Revised Standard Version, unless cites otherwise.
The above photo of Greece comes from
NASA; The icon of Saint Paul comes from George Mitrevski's website. |
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Roman
Forum
 This is
the Roman Forum (In Greek, agora). It is a massive square attesting
to Philippi's commercial significance.
For Paul, a funny thing happened on the way to the forum (or
really, way past the forum...).
One day, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a
slave-girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners
a great deal of money by fortune-telling. While she followed
Paul and us, she would cry out, "These men are slaves of the
Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation." She kept
doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned
and said to the spirit, "I order you in the name of Jesus Christ
to come out of her." And it came out that very hour. But when
her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they
seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace
before the authorities. When they had brought them before the
magistrates, they said, "These men are disturbing our city; they
are Jews and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us
as Romans to adopt or observe." The crowd joined in attacking
them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing
and ordered them to be beaten with rods. (Acts, chapter
16:16-22)
To continue with Paul through Philippi, head to
Prison.
How is the Forum (Agora) significant
for understanding the world of Paul?
Paul commends the wealth and generosity of the church at
Philippi in his letter to them. Given the size of the agora (and
the massive number of fertile fields that surround the city),
this makes great sense.
You Philippians indeed know that in the early days of the
gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the
matter of giving and receiving, except you alone. For even when
I was in Thessalonica, you sent me help for my needs more than
once. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that
accumulates to your account. I have been paid in full and have
more than enough; I am fully satisfied, now that I have received
from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a
sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. (Philippians, chapter
4:15-18)
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