Biblical city
Philippi
Filippoi, Greece · Macedonia
A Roman colony in Macedonia, Philippi received the first church planted in Europe, beginning with Lydia and the jailer (Acts 16). Paul later wrote to this congregation from prison. The archaeological park preserves the forum, theater, and early basilicas.
History in Scripture
Paul's first European congregation began here with Lydia by the riverside; he and Silas were flogged and imprisoned, and the jailer's household believed (Acts 16). The letter to the Philippians reflects a warm and generous church.
The ancient city
A Roman colony on the Via Egnatia settled by veterans of Actium, Philippi was proud of its Roman citizenship — which explains the magistrates' alarm at having beaten Roman citizens.
The site today
The archaeological park near Kavala, Greece, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a forum, theatre, basilicas and the traditional prison.
Key passages
Sources & notes
Description summarizes standard historical and archaeological reference works. Imagery is added separately and is labeled by type.