We played the role as tourist, viewed the ancient ruins of Philippi and walked where Paul and Silas and Luke walked.
We first came to the amphitheater of Philippi. It was HUGE.
We stood in the same river where Lydia was baptized (Acts 16:11-15) and if the water was as cold then as it was now, wow.
We walked up the same steps Paul and Silas walked up before they were imprisoned for casting the demon out of the fortune telling slave girl
and looked into the prison where Paul and Silas sang praises to God just before the earthquake occurred.
We saw the forum market where Paul and Silas were publically beaten before their imprisonment despite the fact that Paul was a Roman Citizen (Acts 16:16-24),
and saw the buildings which once housed the magistrate who ordered their beating and eventual release (Acts 16:35-40). Notice only the doorframe stands.
We walked through rows and rows of houses, one of which could have belonged to the Philippian Jailer who pleaded with Paul “What must I do to be saved?” after the earthquake (Acts 16:30).
We then headed back to Thessalonica (Thessaloniki) by way of newly built intersate rather than the Egnatian Way as Paul, Silas, and Luke would have (Acts 17:1) The Egnatian Way runs parallel to the Forum (market place) through Philippi. It was one of the only structures which still remained pretty well intact after the city fell victim to several earthquakes and the Turkish rule. It was still mostly flat, paved with large white marble stones, and was wide enough for a wagon or two horses to pass side by side.
